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The LPGA Q-Series in Mobile, Alabama, has turned into a test of patience as much as golf skill. Play stopped at 4:15 p.m. local time on Sunday at Magnolia Grove. Groups waiting to tee off for Round 3 never got the chance. The suspension due to darkness added another delay to a week already disrupted by severe weather at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail facility.

Round 1, originally scheduled for Thursday, December 4, was entirely postponed to Friday due to unplayable conditions caused by heavy rain. Round 3 on Sunday was suspended for 5.5 hours—play halted at 9:05 a.m. and resumed at 2:30 p.m. local time before darkness forced another stoppage.

Tournament officials shortened the event from 90 holes to 72 holes and removed the cut. All 116 remaining players will complete the full distance as they compete for 25 available 2026 LPGA Tour membership cards.

The weather challenges aren’t new to Q-Series. Last year’s event faced similar disruptions when play was suspended at 9:30 a.m. on December 9, 2024, with officials calling off action at 1 p.m. before resuming the next day.

Helen Briem leads at 10-under (134 total) after Round 2. The German golfer posted rounds of 65-69 to establish a two-stroke advantage. Ana Belac and Dongeun Lee share second place at 8-under (135 total). Belac went low with a second-round 66, while Lee posted consistent scores of 67-68.

Perrine Delacour, Camille Boyd, and Leah John sit tied for fourth at 7-under. Before Sunday’s suspension, Delacour had already reached 2-under through four holes of Round 3, while Boyd hadn’t started her round. But the leaderboard tells only part of the story.

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LPGA Q-Series shortened format raises competitive stakes

The reduction from 90 holes to 72 holes fundamentally changed the tournament’s dynamics. Players who built early momentum now have less opportunity to be caught. Those who struggled in the opening rounds have fewer holes to recover position.

The tour card bubble sits tight. Players around the 45th position entered Sunday at Even Par or 1-Over Par. Eight players shared 42nd place at Even Par (143 total), including Mimi Rhodes, Kaitlyn Papp Budde, and Lauren Hartlage. Three players at 1-Over Par occupied the 50th position.

With the cut eliminated, all remaining competitors will complete the full 72 holes. But only the top 25 and ties earn LPGA Tour status for 2026. The shortened format means every remaining shot carries maximum consequence.

LPGA officials cited “alarming” safety concerns from standing water that rendered fairways unplayable during the worst conditions. The Crossings Course (Par 72, 6,449 yards) and Falls Course (Par 71, 6,558 yards) were both declared unplayable multiple times throughout the week.

Weather forecasts show improvement. Monday and Tuesday are expected to bring partly cloudy skies with highs in the mid-50s to mid-60s and light winds. The dry conditions should allow officials to complete the 72-hole event by Tuesday, December 9.

The field features past LPGA Tour winners, including Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Jeongeun Lee6, along with rising international stars. Shannon Tan, who made history as the first Singaporean to claim the Ladies European Tour’s Order of Merit, is among those seeking LPGA Tour status.

The compressed schedule ensures that when play resumes on Monday, every putt matters. For 116 players chasing 25 cards, there’s no margin left for error.