Woods to battle weather in title bid

Reuters, Chaska, Minnesota

World number one Tiger Woods will again seek to stay in contention to win a major in unfavourable weather conditions on Saturday at the PGA Championship.

Woods, 26, who shot a third-round 81 in atrocious weather conditions that ended his hopes of winning last month's British Open, will have to complete the final two holes of his second round on Saturday morning.

Heavy rain and lightning forced the suspension of play at 2338 GMT on Friday. Second-round play will resume at 1230 on Saturday.

Woods was at two-under-par through 16 holes and three under for the championship when play was suspended. Fred Funk, who is also yet to complete his round has the best score at seven-under- par with five holes to complete in his round.

Mark Calcavecchia, Justin Leonard and Rich Beem have the best completed second round scores of six-under 138.

Early forecasts predict the rain to move through by the start of play on Saturday, but that winds could be up to 40 mph (64 kph).

"It's not fun to play in and it's not fun to watch," Funk said. "Everybody is going to be struggling in it."

Woods birdied the par-three fourth, the par-four fifth and the par-five seventh to go out in three-under 33 and move to four- under for the championship but then played steadily to par until he bogeyed the par-three 13th hole.

Woods and playing partners David Toms and Ernie Els were on the par-three 17th hole when play was suspended.