Tour Championship 2019: Fans injured by lightning strike as thunderstorms cause play suspension

Six people have been injured after thunderstorms caused play to be suspended at the Tour Championship.

Play was halted at 4.17pm local time due to dangerous weather, and lightning twice struck near the 15th green at about 4.45pm.

Five men and one girl were injured as debris fell from a tree they were believed to have been sheltering under.

Atlanta Police Department spokesman James White confirmed the six people were “alert, conscious, and breathing, for further medical treatment,” and a statement added that their injuries “do not appear to be life-threatening”.

The inclement weather had caused a suspension of play at East Lake in Atlanta midway through the third round.

Justin Thomas leads Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka by one shot at 12 under par, having played five holes of his third round.

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Play will resume at 8am local time (1pm BST) on Sunday, with the remaining third rounds to be completed before the fourth round begins.

The PGA Tour has merged the season finale Tour Championship with the FedEx Cup this year and controversially introduced handicapped scoring.

The winner will take home $15 million with prize money available for all participants.