Inzai (Japan) (AFP)

The first edition of the Zozo championship golf, the first PGA tournament in Japan, will conclude Monday, decided the organizers Friday, after the postponement of the second round because of heavy rains that fell on the course of Inzai, in the prefecture from Chiba, located in the Greater Tokyo area.

According to the Narashino Country Club Golf Course, some 130 millimeters of rain fell on the greens in 24 hours, making impossible the battle of the 2nd round led by American co-riders Tiger Woods and Gary Woodland.

"As required by the rules, the PGA Tour officials have decided that the tournament will end Monday," said in a statement the PGA Tour.

"The saturation point (soil) has been reached, it's impractical," said Gary Young, vice president of regulations and competitions of the US PGA Tour, to explain "the postponement of the second round to Saturday between 09h30 and 11h30 local (00h30 to 02h30 GMT).

The organization has time to play the second and third rounds on Saturday, but PGA meteorologist Stewart Williams said he feared a rain return on Sunday and warned the organizers to consider an extra day.

The postponement is a serious disappointment for the PGA circuit, which celebrates its first tournament in Japan, a country keen golf. And it poses the problem of ticketing for a sold-out tournament.

For security reasons, the course will be closed to spectators for Saturday, said the release of the PGA Tour.

"For now, Sunday will be open to spectators with a ticket for Sunday," said the organizers, adding that the information for Monday will be announced "in due course".

Tiger Woods overcame a tough start on the first three holes in a series of nine birdies on the remaining 15 holes, finishing 6 under the par, tied with Woodland, the winner of the US Open.

Woods, winner of the Masters, continues his quest for an 82nd PGA Tour title to match the record held by his illustrious compatriot Sam Snead.

The Zozo championship is the second of three stages of the new PGA hook in Asia. He debuted last week by the CJ Cup in South Korea, won by the American Justin Thomas, and ends next week in Shanghai.

© 2019 AFP