Tee times pushed up in third round at East Lake

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ATLANTA -- The threat of heavy rain on Saturday has prompted officials at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola to move tee times up for the third round at East Lake Golf Club.

The elite field of 30 players competing in the finale of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup will now be sent off the first tee from 8-10:20 a.m. The projected finish time is 2:30 p.m.

The forecast calls for a 90 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms on Saturday and rain could be heavy at times. The rain should move out of the area by Sunday morning when mostly sunny skies and a high of 80 is forecast.

East Lake absorbed a foot of rain in a six-day period that ended Monday, including 4 inches on that day alone. Other areas of metropolitan Atlanta were hit even harder and nine people were killed in flooding that closed more than 100 roads, including four interstates, and washed out bridges.

Thanks to a SubAir system installed after the 2006 event, though, East Lake drains extremely well. The small field also will make things easier if play is delayed beyond the new tee times.

Gates at East Lake will open to the public at 7 a.m.