The 2002 and 2009 US Opens are remembered for the rain as much as their winners, with both Majors at Bethpage Black besieged by storms. Though America’s north-east has experienced one of the wettest periods on record in 2019, it appears this week’s US PGA Championship may escape a similar fate.
According to the latest forecasts for Farmingdale, New York, the PGA proceedings – which looked to be wet as late as last weekend – should be relatively dry, or dry enough to play:
In Celsius, those top temperatures convert to: 11 degrees (Tuesday, local time), 18 (Wednesday), 18 (Thursday), 17 (Friday), 19 (Saturday) and 18 (Sunday).
However, it did rain most of the past week in the Long Island area, and Monday brought its share of showers as well. Bethpage is saturated to the point that the course should remain soggy throughout the tournament.
“Yeah, ball isn’t bouncing, obviously,” Lucas Glover, winner of the 2009 US Open, said overnight. “I know you guys have been just pounded the past couple weeks and this weekend.” Glover said the course is playing “long and hard”, just as it was for the two US Opens.
Also adding to the difficulty will be consistent wind, with possible two-club gusts blowing through the area during the weekend. That temperatures will hover in the teens won’t help matters.
Still, given Bethpage saw a Monday finish during its last hosting duty, it’s a forecast PGA of America officials, and New Yorkers, will gladly take.
