There’s no sport more dependent on weather than golf, and some bad weather led to a scary moment at the Tour Championship in Atlanta on Saturday. Lightning ended the third round of the Tour Championship early, with play scheduled to pick back up on Sunday.
Weather Update:
Play has been suspended for the day at East Lake and the third-round will resume Sunday morning. pic.twitter.com/TL5dRDEi6U
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 24, 2019
But the much scarier news is that suspension was not for precautionary reasons: lightning actually injured those on the course and sent a number of spectators to the hospital. Local meteorologists saw the storm coming and warned it could lead to some scary weather.
And NBC cameras actually caught the strike, which hit a pine tree on the course right by a group of spectators. The noise of the thunder here is loud and scary, but the strike itself is what’s dangerous here.
Lightning strike on a tree during a weather delay at the Tour Championship, according to Mike Tirico there were 4 injuries, none of which were life threatening pic.twitter.com/YQpFmbXSb2
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) August 24, 2019
The slow motion of this is pretty scary.
NBC just showed a lightning strike out at the #TOURChampionship at East Lake that injured possibly 4. This is a slow motion shot of their coverage. Wow! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/0Z1ARb6a8q
— Craig Lucie (@CraigLucie) August 24, 2019
Multiple strikes were shown on camera, but the strike that hit near the pine tree in the middle of the picture appears to be the strike that injured spectators.
WATCH…This is why you take thunderstorms seriously!
Scary situation as a t-storm developed near the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, GA. Golf players, as well as spectators, were seeking shelter. 4 people were reported being treated due to the lightning strike. #gawx #arwx pic.twitter.com/GQHCx2mqfG
— Hayden Nix (@HaydenNix) August 24, 2019
Oh my…Here's the moment lightning struck at the Tour Championship from the NBC feed. Wow… pic.twitter.com/1CqMw0EsUG
— Matt Reagan (@MattReaganWX) August 24, 2019
The frozen image of the tree basically catching fire is even worse.
Lightning struck a tree on round 3 of the Tour Championship, 4 injured game suspended @PGATOUR @Fedegolf pic.twitter.com/t2GwSNDm4A
— Antonio Felfle M. (@afelfle) August 24, 2019
According to reports, the lightning strike injured spectators, who were then sent to the hospital.
According to official on the scene five fans were injured by a lightning strike at East Lake. All were taken to a local hospital and were “alert.”
— Rex Hoggard (@RexHoggardGC) August 24, 2019
BREAKING: Ambulances take five people to the hospital after lightning strikes a pine tree at East Lake Golf Club following the suspension of play at the Tour Championship in Atlanta. https://t.co/df4HJHGhF5
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 24, 2019
Scary images of spectators on stretchers where spread on social media, though early word is that the injuries were not life-threatening. The broadcast of the event addressed the strike and wished the victims well.
We send our thoughts and prayers to the spectators who were injured during the weather delay at the TOUR Championship. pic.twitter.com/REcxBUIV1H
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 24, 2019
We’ll keep you updated if there’s any word on those injured, but hopefully it’s just a terrifying image and not a tragic incident on the course.
