AAP
Tournament boss Trevor Herden said he had no alternative but to suspend the Australian Open on Sunday after fierce winds knocked down a television tower near the 18th green.
Herden was hopeful play would resume in the final round at The Lakes when 80 kilometre gusts eased and that the tournament would not require a Monday finish.
Tournament leader John Senden was yet to begin his final round and, barring an unlikely charge from other challengers, is set to begin with a two-stroke advantage over Englishman Justin Rose after play resumed.
Herden, though, said player and spectator safety was paramount.
"Obviously there's nothing we can do to protect anybody other than to get them out of danger," he said.
"We have an obligation to the public and the players and then there's the golf course, which at that point became unplayable.
"We were managing very, very well through the 60km (wind) zone but once we got to 80, we all know that no golf course can defend 80 kilometre winds.
"We had to suspend play."
Balls were also moving on some greens, but Herden was keeping faith with the weather bureau which was predicting the wind to ease in the afternoon.
"Even if we got out at, like, 3 o'clock," he said.
"The leaders are nearly off.
"But we would want to finish this championship and if it means tomorrow morning, then it means tomorrow morning.
"But we want to make use of every hour of daylight we have."
Herden described the conditions as brutal.
"All the players are delighted to be in at the moment because they're not playing in it," he said.
Taking advantage of easier early morning conditions, golfing great Tom Watson signed off with a fine closing three-under-par 69 and predicted the mounting winds would make the title battle a lottery.
The eight-times major winner finished his campaign at five-over after rounds of 78-68-78-69 and suspected a 72-hole total of about three or four under par would be enough to win the Open.
"A good (round) score is even par," Watson said.
"It will be interesting to see what happens. It's a really strong wind."
Chasing a second Open victory, Senden said he was relishing the prospect of a final-round duel with Rose, the world No.4 and top-ranked player in the field.
Senden was the Open's third-round leader for a second year running after posting a workmanlike 70 at the windswept venue on Saturday.
Last year, Senden was unable to convert his third-round lead, narrowly missing a snaking, 35-foot birdie putt on the last to fall by a shot to Greg Chalmers.
Along with Rose, Senden - the 2006 champion - had a swag of other players on his tail.
Matt Jones and veteran Peter Senior were both at four-under and three shots back, with 2001 champion Stuart Appleby, Cameron Percy and American Kyle Stanley sharing sixth spot at three-under.
Halfway leader Marcus Fraser and pre-tournament favourite Adam Scott were five back at two-under.
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