Severe weather forces earlier Bermuda Championship finale: first groups off at 6:45 a.m.

The final round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship on Sunday, October 25, is set to begin earlier than originally planned. The PGA TOUR has brought forward tee times and the television window because strong winds and rain squalls are forecast at Port Royal Golf Course. The aim is to complete the decisive 18 holes before conditions become even more difficult. The adjustment is not an announcement that the event has been cancelled.

The revised tee times. The first three-ball groups are scheduled for 6:45 a.m. Eastern Time (7:45 a.m. in Bermuda), starting simultaneously from the first and tenth tees. The final group of Austin Smotherman, Seamus Power and Taylor Moore is listed for 8:46 a.m. ET (9:46 a.m. in Bermuda) on the first tee. The compact, early-morning schedule provides more time to finish the round ahead of the potentially worst conditions. Further changes remain possible if the forecast develops.

What the forecast says. Golf Channel reported on October 24 that sustained winds above 30 mph, gusts approaching 50 mph and a high likelihood of rain squalls later in the day were forecast. Those figures describe a forecast, not measured conditions during Sunday's play. On an exposed coastal course, strong gusts can change club selection, ball flight and distance control. Players must judge each shot on its merits; it would be premature to predict which contender will benefit from the weather.

The competition at the top. After 54 holes, Smotherman and Power are tied for the lead at 16 under par. The nearest challengers are two strokes behind at 14 under, including Moore, who joins the leaders in the final group. Power won the Bermuda event in 2022. Smotherman claimed his maiden PGA TOUR title earlier this month at the Bank of Utah Championship. The stakes extend beyond the trophy: FedExCup Fall points can materially affect players' positions for next season.

A different Sunday for viewers. Golf Channel has moved the live final-round broadcast to an 11 a.m. ET start. All tee times quoted here use U.S. Eastern Time; clocks in Bermuda are one hour ahead. Spectators travelling to Port Royal should consult official tournament updates for the latest start times and weather advisories. An earlier start does not guarantee an uninterrupted finish.

Why the timing matters. This is more than another preview of the overnight leaders. The revised schedule changes how the concluding day will unfold and the conditions in which a champion must be decided. The 54-hole leaderboard is not a final result.

Sources: Golf Channel — schedule change and forecast; GOLF.com — Sunday pairings; PGA TOUR — official leaderboard. Image: archival photograph of a Bermuda golf course taken in November 2023, Daniel T / Pexels; it does not depict Port Royal or the 2026 tournament.