Arnold Palmer Invitational weather delay: How long will play be suspended?

The third round of the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational was halted by heavy rains at the Bay Hill course on Saturday, March 7.

The top PGA Tour players were called off the course at 2:53 p.m. Eastern. But it would appear it was a typical, brief Florida downpour that stopped almost as quickly as it began.

Here’s what we know about the status of third round of play:

Was the Arnold Palmer Invitational suspended?

Yes. At 2:53 p.m., play was suspended due to inclement weather. But not even 20 minutes later, the rain slowed down and the clouds rolled away as the grounds crew began to remove the water.

When will the Arnold Palmer Invitational start again?

As of 3:10 p.m., there has not been word on when play will resume. But based on weather radar mapping, it appears that the storm would be moving along quickly.

Do golf tournaments get canceled because of rain?

If it’s just raining, no. Golfers will play through rain. However, there are two big exceptions:

Lightning: If there is lightning in the area, play will be suspended until conditions are deemed safe. On the PGA Tour, players can also decide if conditions are unsafe.
Pooling: If water is building up on the greens, tee boxes or fairways, play will be suspended until the water soaks into the ground or the play areas are cleared.

PGA Tour weather policy

The PGA Tour directs spectators to pay attention to on-course scoreboards for weather messages throughout the tournament. The PGA Tour weather policy has five color-coded stages of alerts regarding weather:

Green: “Inclement weather is not expected today. Enjoy your day!”
Yellow: “Be aware: Inclement weather possible.”
Orange: “Be prepared: Inclement weather approaching. Prepare to take shelter or exit the premises.”
Red: “Take action: Inclement weather. Play suspended. Seek shelter immediately or exit the premises.”
Purple: “Course closed. Play suspended for the day. Exit grandstands, temporary structures, and exit the premises.”