Viking Classic Canceled - For Good

Officials canceled the PGA Tour's Viking Classic at Annandale Golf Club in Madison, Miss. Overnight showers swamped an already-saturated course, so the $3.6 million event was canceled altogether, the first time that's happened since the 1996 Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Annandale received almost two inches of rain on Friday and Saturday; the first round was never even played. "This was closer to a disaster site than a golf course," said tournament director Randy Watkins. "Somebody asked if you could play somewhere else. I don't think you could play golf within 150 miles of here."

On Friday, officials hoped to shorten the event to 54 holes or play next week when there is an off-week in the schedule, but the course is not expected to be playable even then because of continued bad weather.

The washout hurt the chances of players outside the top 125 money winners hoping to improve their positions and keep their Tour cards for 2010.

There will be no makeup date for the Viking Classic. Only one event is left on the Tour, the Children's Miracle Network Classic November 12-15 in Orlando, Fla.

For players like Rich Beem, who ranks 124th on the money list, the uncertain situation is hard to fathom. "I would be lying to you saying it wasn't nerve-wracking," the 2002 PGA champion said. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to go out to Disney and play well and see if we can't wrap this thing up."