The Butterfield Bermuda Championship was reduced to 54 holes after bad weather forced PGA Tour organisers to cancel the final round; co-leaders Seamus Power and Austin Smotherman will face off in a play-off on Monday Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Seamus Power and Austin Smotherman are set to face off in a Monday play-off after the final round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship was scrapped due to bad weather. The PGA Tour confirmed the news on Sunday evening, with Power and Smotherman leading on 16 under heading into the final round, two shots clear of a chasing pack that included Taylor Moore, Corey Conners and Ben Silverman. PGA Tour referees had been assessing the possibility of hosting the final round on Monday, but with forecasts predicting more rain and heavy winds, officials confirmed the tournament would be ended prematurely. However, Power and Smotherman are scheduled to go head-to-head in a play-off at 12pm (GMT) weather permitting.
It marks the first time in two years that a PGA Tour event has been forced to conclude after 54 holes after Wyndham Clark sealed victory at the weather-affected 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. “Due to the unfavourable weather forecast for Monday at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship and the uncertainty surrounding the completion of the entire final round on Monday, the tournament results will be considered final through 54 holes in accordance with PGA Tour Regulations,” a statement from the PGA Tour read. “A play-off between Seamus Power and Austin Smotherman will be conducted to determine the champion and is tentatively scheduled for 9am local time on Monday, subject to weather conditions.” Power, who is out to win his third PGA Tour title, notably clinched his first victory on the US circuit via a play-off, defeating JT Poston at the 2021 ISCO Championship. Smotherman will participate in his first play-off on the PGA Tour, and is out to win his second title after claiming victory in his most recent start at the Bank of Utah Championship.
After carding opening rounds of 65 and 66, Smotherman rose seven places up the leaderboard on Saturday with another five-under 66, which included three birdies on his first five holes, and an eagle on the seventh, before going level through his back nine. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Power surged to go one shot back of the 36-hole lead after an impressive second-round 64. As many players fell away in the trying conditions, the Irishman carded an impressive four-under 67 to take a share of the lead with Smotherman through 54 holes. Weather forecasts expect a 60 per cent chance of rain on Monday morning, as well as winds between 15 to 20mph.
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