Play underway at wind-whipped Kapalua

MAUI, Hawaii (AFP) –

L-R: Kapalua golf consultant Gary Planos, Chief of Operations for the PGA Andy Padzer, PGA Tour rules official Jon Brendle and rules official Slugger White stand on the 10th hole green as the test the effects of the high winds with some golf balls before the replay of the first round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course on January 6, 2013 in Kapalua, Hawaii.

The US PGA Tour tried again to get the 2013 season underway Sunday, with players teeing off in the first-round of the Tournament of Champions after another four-hour weather delay.

After weather disrupted play on Friday and cancelled all action on Saturday, organizers of the season-opening event had hoped to start fresh with two rounds on Sunday and finish a tournament reduced to 54 holes on Monday.

But high winds led to a four-hour delay on Sunday, and when Matt Kuchar teed off on the 10th hole a gust knocked his ball off the tee.

“It’s a little better … very little,” PGA Tour Vice President of Rules and Competition Slugger White said. “But we’re going to try to go. If we have to stop we have to stop.”

As of Sunday afternoon, officials hoped to play 18 holes on Sunday and 36 on Monday.

“It is still very windy, but it is a lot better weather today because it isn’t raining out there,” said tour rules official Jon Brendle.

“Getting in 18 today will be huge and then we can play 36 tomorrow to get in 54 holes and not have to bring Tuesday into play.”