PGA TOUR officials canceled the weather-stricken Viking Classic on Saturday because of unplayable course conditions. There will be no makeup date and players will move on to the final event of the season, the Children's Miracle Network Classic on Nov. 12-15 in Orlando, Fla.
Officials postponed, then canceled play Thursday and Friday mornings after nearly constant rain. There had been hope officials might shorten the tournament to 54 holes and play next week or weekend, but groundskeepers don't think the course will dry out that quickly.
This is the first time a tournament has been scrapped outright because of weather since the 1996 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, which was canceled due to unplayable conditions. The last rainout came in Houston in 1991, though that tournament was rescheduled.
The Viking Classic was important for a few dozen players who are chasing TOUR cards for the 2010 season. The top 125 on the money list pass through and most of the players hovering around that level were in attendance. They'll have just one chance now to move up.
Notes:
• Rickie Fowler and Jamie Lovemark, who lost in a playoff to Troy Matteson at last weeks Frys.com Open, can both use the top-10 exemption for the Children's Miracle Network Classic. They both have until Friday to commit to the Children's Miracle Network Classic.
• In 2005, the Viking Classic (then named the Southern Farm Bureau Classic) was moved from October to November due to Hurricane Katrina.
• The Viking Classic has been shortened due to weather nine times since its inception in 1968, including three times since moving to Annandale Golf Club. It was shortened in 1974, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1989 when held in Hattiesburg, Miss., and 1994, 2002 and this year at Annandale Golf Club.
• The last time a tournament was cancelled and not rescheduled was the 1996 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (unplayable course conditions).
• Last time a final round was postponed and played later in the season was the 1998 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
Shawn Jasper and Peter Malnati, graduates of the University of Missouri, advance to Stage II of Q-School.
St. Louisans Doug Diemer and Chris Naegel also advance.
