Bermuda Championship finale delayed: high winds keep Port Royal closed despite earlier tee times

The final round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship did not begin on schedule on Sunday, October 25, 2026. The PGA TOUR confirmed a weather-related delay and said Port Royal Golf Course remained closed. That announcement came after officials had already moved Sunday tee times forward in an effort to get ahead of the forecast high winds.

An early-start plan overtaken by conditions

The planned first tee times were 6:45 a.m. US Eastern Time (7:45 a.m. in Bermuda), with three-player groups starting from both the first and tenth tees. The last group—Austin Smotherman, Seamus Power and Taylor Moore—had been scheduled for 8:46 a.m. ET (9:46 a.m. Bermuda time).

But the wind disrupted that contingency plan before the final round could get under way. In a PGA TOUR statement reproduced by Bermuda's Royal Gazette, tournament officials said the round's tee times had been delayed and the course remained closed while conditions were monitored. The next update was due at 9:00 a.m. Bermuda time (12:00 UTC). Crucially, that was an update time, not an announced restart time.

What the leaderboard actually shows

With play yet to begin in round four, the relevant standings are the 54-hole scores, not final tournament results. Smotherman and Power share the lead at 16 under par, 197 strokes apiece. Taylor Moore, Corey Conners and Ben Silverman are two strokes back on 14 under, 199 strokes. No winner has been determined, and a weather delay does not change the completed three-round totals.

The joint leaders have compellingly different storylines. Power won this championship in 2022 and is trying to repeat at Port Royal. Smotherman earned his first PGA TOUR title earlier this month at the Bank of Utah Championship and is seeking another. Their scheduled final-round pairing cannot begin until officials reopen the course and issue workable tee times.

Safety before the spectacle

Port Royal's exposed coastal setting leaves shotmaking vulnerable to strong, shifting wind. Gusts can alter both ball flight and the safe operation of a tournament. PGA TOUR officials must consider competitors, caddies, spectators and staff before allowing play. A delay is not the same as a cancellation, and there is no basis yet to say the championship has been pushed into Monday.

This is a significant update to Saturday's original weather plan: moving the starts earlier was intended to protect Sunday's finish, but conditions have now prevented the planned start altogether. For verified timing and scores, follow the PGA TOUR's official leaderboard rather than relying on yesterday's tee sheet.

Sources: The Royal Gazette, October 25, 7:21 a.m. Bermuda time, quoting the PGA TOUR statement; TNN Bermuda, reporting the same official notice; PGA TOUR leaderboard. The image is an archival illustration of another Bermuda golf course, not a photograph of Port Royal or today's storm.