Golf: Rain washes out play at LPGA Championship

Rain washed out the scheduled first round of the LPGA Championship on Thursday, but organizers still hope to complete the second women’s major of the year on Sunday.

Heavy, steady rain early Thursday meant play never got underway, with the first round now due to start on Friday morning.

Eighteen holes will be played on both of the first two days, with the cut coming at the conclusion of Saturday’s second round.

Officials plan to play 36 holes on Sunday.

“I think coming into the day everybody knew what the weather was going to be,” said world number two Stacy Lewis of the United States. “We knew it was going to be a long day, long week. It always is here.

“We’re golfers. We deal with rain delays all the time,” Lewis added. “So you just have to stay patient with it and when you have an opportunity to play, just be ready to go and hopefully your golf swing can stay in a rhythm.”

More than an inch of rain fell before play was called for the day, raising speculation that the already dense, tall rough at Locust Hill would be even more challenging.

“The rough this year in my opinion is the longest that I’ve ever seen it,” said American Paige Mackenzie. “It’s always healthy, but it’s like Sunday rough on Tuesday, so it’ll be interesting not having cut it what it’s going to look like on Sunday with this kind of moisture and if it’s going to continue to grow the next four days.”

Feng Shanshan, who became China’s first major golf champion by capturing last year’s LPGA Championship, is back to defend her title at the $2.25 million tournament.

Seventh-ranked Feng and the rest of the world’s top 50 players are aiming at a $337,500 top prize at Locust Hill Country Club, where Feng fired the best round of last year’s event, a five-under 67, on Sunday to win by two shots.