This fog delayed and eventually canceled the third round of the 2012 Farmers Insurance Open in Torrey Pines. Photo by Jack Clark
Too much fog canceled the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Saturday. Play resumed Sunday morning at 7 a.m. Tournament officials said Monday’s play will be free to the public.

Idyllwild’s Brendan Steele had an early tee time for Saturday morning, but Torrey Pines weather decided otherwise. Because of dense fog, officials repeatedly delayed the start of the third round throughout the day.

Twice the sun appeared to dry up the fog and the word was that play was about to start, but both times the fog rolled in again, resulting in visibility of only about 50 yards. Only two groups (six players) teed off on Saturday, one of the groups finished their first hole before play was suspended.

Four times during the morning and early afternoon, Steele made the quarter-mile trip from the practice putting green, which is the staging area for the first tee, back to the driving range to try to keep sharp. Finally, at about two o’clock the great bulk of spectators and even players appeared to give up on the day.

Eventually, officials formally postponed all of the Saturday rounds to Sunday. Steele now is scheduled to tee off in the third round at 7:20 on Sunday Morning from the No. 1 tee on the South Course.

The fog did benefit golf fans who will have a free day Monday, Jan. 28. Tickets to attend the Farmers Insurance Open will be free Monday.

Parking will also be free on the Glider port Shuttles will run from Del Mar (Solana Gate) and UTC executive lots for $15.00

“We felt with it was the right thing to do, because of the recent weather issues. We welcome all golf fans to come out to Torrey Pines on Monday, to watch the world’s best players,”said Peter Ripa Executive Director for the Farmers Insurance Open.

There were no fog delays on the PGA TOUR in 2012, but there five events had fog delays in 2011, including the Tampa Bay Championship, Shell Houston Open, Wells Fargo Championship, Greenbrier Classic and Frys.com Open.