Six spectators were injured when lightning struck a tree during the third round at the Tour Championship in Atlanta on Saturday.

Axar.az reports citing Reuters.

The strike occurred 28 minutes after play was halted when thunderstorms hit the East Lake Golf Club, Tour rules official Mark Russell said on the NBC broadcast.

The PGA Tour said two lightning strikes had hit the course.

“At 4.45 p.m., there were two lightning strikes at East Lake Golf Club; a tree near the range/15 green/16 tee was hit, and debris from that strike injured four people,” the Tour said in a statement.

“(Emergency personnel) tended to those fans and two others immediately and transported them from the property via ambulance for further medical attention.

“Our latest report is that their injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.”

Russell said officials were aware of possible thunderstorms but elected not to change the tee-times.

“When one did form right over the top of us we suspended play immediately,” he said.

Play will resume at 8 a.m. (1200 GMT) local time on Sunday.

NBC screened footage showing the lightning bolt that apparently caused the injuries.

Professional golf tournaments became far more vigilant about stopping play amid the threat of lightning after two spectators were killed at separate major championships in the United States in 1991.