After halting play Thursday following Queen Elizabeth II’s death, the DP World Tour has decided to move forward with the remainder of the 2022 BMW PGA Championship. Play will resume Saturday at 6:40 a.m. local time in Surrey, England,  (1:40 a.m. ET) with several groups still needing to finish their first rounds. 

“The second round of the BMW PGA Championship will resume at 6:40 a.m. on Saturday morning and all original second round tee times will remain the same,” the DP World Tour released in a statement. “Those players who are yet to complete their first round will do so from 7:30 a.m. onwards from the place on the golf course where they stopped on Thursday afternoon.”

The tournament, the biggest on the DP World Tour, will be cut down to 54 holes in lieu of the standard 72 holes.  

“The Rolex Series event will now be contested over 54 holes with the intention to finish on Sunday as scheduled,” the statement said. “It is not possible to play the full 72 holes and finish on Monday as we cannot guarantee the staff, facilities or security of the venue on Monday due to the on-going plans for the state funeral. Across the weekend at Wentworth, black ribbons will be made available for people to wear and flags will continue to fly at half-mast.”

This means the opening rounds of 8-under 64 courtesy of Englishmen Andy Sullivan and Tommy Fleetwood and Norwegian Viktor Hovland hold even more weight as the trio possessed the co-lead at the conclusion of play on Thursday. With only 36 holes to play, the task to chase down those at the top of the leaderboard becomes all the more difficult for pursuers.

There was no mention of a change to the cut in the DP World Tour’s statement, so it should be safe to assume it will take place following the initial 36 holes. With Rory McIlroy and defending champion Billy Horschel four strokes off the pace, and Matt Fitzpatrick and Jon Rahm even farther back, flawless golf will need to be played over the weekend if they are to raise the biggest trophy on the DP World Tour.

The death of Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s figurehead for the last seven decades and longest serving monarch, is reverberating throughout the world including in sports. The golf community is also reacting to her death Thursday at 96 with play at the 2022 BMW PGA Championship in Surrey, England — the DP World Tour’s flagship event — suspended for Thursday and Friday with a decision on resuming play to come later.

“On behalf of our members and everyone connected with the European Tour group and the BMW PGA Championship, it is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She truly was an inspiration to people the world over,” the DP World Tour released in a statement.

“Out of respect for Her Majesty and the Royal Family, play has been suspended at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club for the remainder of Thursday and flags at Wentworth Club will be lowered to half-mast. Furthermore, no play will take place at BMW PGA Championship on Friday and the golf course and practice facilities will be closed. Further updates on the resumption of play will be provided in due course. Our deepest sympathies and condolences are with the Royal Family at this time.”

It is unknown whether the tournament will proceed on Saturday as a 54 or 72-hole event — or even at all — as a trio of Europeans share the top spot on the leaderboard after Thursday’s action. Tommy Fleetwood, Andy Sullivan and Viktor Hovland all signed for opening rounds of 8-under 64 to kick off their BMW PGA Championships as Wentworth Club proved to be defenseless following heavy rains in the area.

World No. 3 Rory McIlroy — the highest ranked player in the field — carded a 4-under 68 to sit T11 following his dramatic come-from-behind victory at the 2022 Tour Championship. Playing in the BMW PGA Championship for the first time since 2019, McIlroy shares this position on the leaderboard with defending champion Billy Horschel among others.