Bermuda Championship forced into Monday playoff due to wind

After wind gusts of over 40mph (65km/h) meant none of the 72 players through the cut could begin their final round, tournament organiser made the decision to reduce the championship to 54 holes and have a sudden death playoff to decide the winner. Smotherman and Power will tee off at 9am local time on Monday October 26 on to the par-3 16th hole if the weather allows. The Bermuda Championship was set to have an unusual finale.

Windy conditions cause problems at Bermuda Championship

Strong winds around Port Royal Golf Course meant conditions were too difficult to play the final round of the tournament. Wind speeds of above 40mph hit the course in the morning. Although there was some hope of improved conditions, organisers felt they couldn’t proceed with the final round. Conditions were unlikely to improve much either with further difficult conditions predicted throughout the day.

This means all 72 players through the cut were affected. However, it was decided to reduce the event to a 54 hole championship and have a playoff between the top two players. The final would usually be played on a Sunday but after the decisions made in Bermuda the championship will be decided in a sudden death playoff. It’s a great reminder of how much weather can impact professional golf, especially coastal courses.

Austin Smotherman and Seamus Power set for sudden death playoff

After completing their 54 holes both Smotherman and Power are tied at the top and will have their playoff on the 16th hole. If the conditions allow play will commence. Sudden death playoffs mean players will keep playing until someone scores better on a hole than the other. Due to this every shot will be crucial and could make or break their chances. The match goes further than deciding who wins another tournament. It will impact their positions on the PGA Tour.

Smotherman has already had a great month winning his first PGA Tour title in Utah. To win another title will add to his good run and mean he will qualify for the U.S. Open. Power is looking for a result that could really help him in the coming months. He is just outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup Fall currently.

Power could win his place on the PGA Tour through 2028 and qualify to play in the Championship Series, one of the elite series, in the new 2028 PGA Tour schedule.

This means the Irish golfer will be keen to make the most of his position at the top. Smotherman has already won his first PGA Tour title in Utah earlier this month and will be looking to get some momentum going. If he wins in Bermuda he’ll qualify for the U.S. Open. Both players have contrasting incentives.

Bermuda Championship could prove crucial for Power

If Power can win in Bermuda he’ll guarantee his place on the PGA Tour through to 2028. He’ll then be in a position to qualify for the Championship Series in the new 2028 schedule. This means it will be a crucial match for the Irish golfer. Smotherman now has the chance to add onto his debut win in Utah. Winning in Bermuda will guarantee his spot in the U.S. Open. Because both players have so much on the line it adds another aspect to their playoff.

The Bermuda Championship has caused issues with the schedule as both Smotherman and Power are playing in the Mexico Open next week. Other players in the field were expected to fly out in a charter flight. Unusual Monday finishes are rare on the PGA Tour, but sometimes weather issues coupled with organisers have to make changes. The last time there was a Monday finish was in June at the Travelers Championship where Viktor Hovland beat Scottie Scheffler. The last time there was a 54 hole championship was in 2024 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am which finished on a Saturday. So this is another example of how extreme weather can impact the format and schedule of a tournament. 

The organisers wanted to ensure they adequately dealt with the lack of playable conditions but also fairly decide a winner. This means the championship will be reduced to 54 holes and will be decided between Smotherman and Power. Now we wait to see how they do on Monday morning. With both players having so much on the line with their PGA Tour status and possible U.S. Open spots this will be a crucial end to the Bermuda Championship. After an extremely windy Sunday the title will be decided between two golfers in a sudden death playoff.