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CNN Live Saturday

Play Resumes at PGA Championships After Rain Delay

Aired August 17, 2002 - 12:36   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: After a rain delay, play has resumed at the PGA Championship. No one upset out there.
And as usual, everyone is watching golfing great, Tiger Woods. We check in now with Larry Smith, with CNN Sports, who's keeping watch for us, from Chaska, Minnesota. And Larry, is it Fred Funk still the one that everyone's chasing?

LARRY SMITH, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Fred Funk actually now is one of the players everyone is chasing, Fredricka, as Funk actually struggled this morning in the very windy condition that we're going to experience all day today, here in suburban Minneapolis.

Funk bogeyed three in the final six holes. So he finishes at six under par. Part of a five-way tie for first place. Justin Leonard, Rich Beem, Mark Calcavecchia, Retief Goosen, and Fred Funk -- all at six under.

Tiger Woods -- outstanding shot and one of -- he said one of his best shots ever in his career on 18 today, to set up a birdie punt. He is right now, at four under par, and he is looking pretty good.

But once again, weather is the big story here at the PGA Championship -- the final major of the golf season of 2002.

On Friday, play suspended for the second day in a row because of weather problems. Lightning strikes prompted playing to be suspended. Just after 6:30 local time here in central time zone. And the fans flocking to their cars.

Keep in mind, it was in 1991, the U.S. Open was held here on this very same Hazeltine National Golf Course, where the lightening strike killed a spectator. So obviously, they're very cautious of weather here. The players also very quickly getting off the course as well.

But everyone watching the weather. No storm today, just very windy conditions, partly sunny conditions. And Tiger Woods, once again, is the man two shots behind the leaders, as he vies for his ninth career major title.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIGER WOODS, PRO GOLFER: Just need to get the ball in play. I want to make a high number. And just to kind of plod your way along. And it's going to be a tough day for all of us. The wind's going to be blowing hard. It's going to be dusty. And on top of that, it's going to be coming out of different directions. I think that's going to be the hardest part is, getting down those trees (UNINTELLIGIBLE) quite a bit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SMITH: Tiger Woods, one of 22 golfers within five shots of the lead. He will tee off at 1:00 central time today in his threesome. By the way, they are using -- going off in threesomes to get the round in. Also, they are teeing off using both the first tee and the 10th tee to get everybody in on this third round, here at the PGA.

Let's go back to Atlanta.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks a lot. Larry Smith. I appreciate it.

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