PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — The Players Championship delayed fan entry by 90 minutes Saturday morning after a shooting occurred just outside TPC Sawgrass late Friday night and the suspected gunman temporarily fled into the golf course property.
“Due to operational considerations, gates for today’s third round will now open at 9 a.m. ET,” read a PGA Tour statement that was released shortly before gates were supposed to open at 7:30 am ET.
“We have worked closely with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and appreciate the coordination and partnership from Sheriff Rob Hardwick and his team. Please note, tee times will remain as previously scheduled, and all on-course hospitality venues will open at 11 a.m. ET.”
With tickets sold out for Saturday’s third round, the fan entry delay came after two people were shot Friday night in the parking lot of Walgreens located about a mile away from the course.
Hardwick said the suspect, identified as Christian Barrios, shot two people multiple times at about 10:30 p.m. Friday in what he called a domestic violence situation, according to Action News Jax. The victims, whose names have not been released, died after being taken to a local hospital.
Canine units pursued Barrios into the TPC Sawgrass property, which is a large neighborhood that includes hotels, residential units, and other businesses, in addition to the golf course where the Players Championship is being played.
Hardwick said Barrios at one point picked up a PGA Tour radio, and he stole a BMW. Barrios was captured at about 8 a.m. ET Saturday in nearby Nassau County, about an hour north of TPC Sawgrass.
Five groups teed off Round 3 before fans were allowed inside. Seamus Power was the first tee time of the day at 8:15 a.m. ET. Four other pairings teed off between 8:20 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. ET. Tournament leader Ludvig Aberg and Xander Schauffele tee off in the final group of the day at 2:35 p.m. ET.
