Six fans escape death by a whisker after lightning strike at golf course

Several people have been struck by lightning at East Lake Gold Course [Course]

Six golf fans were injured when lightning hit a tree during a championship game on Saturday.

The PGA announced that play at the FedEx Championship was suspended at East Lake due to thunderstorms in the Atlanta area.

The FedEx Cup leaders only managed to make it through four holes during the third round of the Tour Championship before play was brought to a halt.

Footage emerged of lightning strikes at the course, with one dramatic video showing a tree catching fire after being struck.

The tree was located just off the 16th tee at East Lake. It struck the top and shattered bark all the way to the bottom.

The PGA Tour said: "EMT 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.

Fans are assisted by medical personnel after a lightning strike [Courtesy]

"Due to these circumstances, the third round has been suspended for the day and play will resume on Sunday at 8 a.m. ET."

It is understood five ambulances streamed into East Lake across the entrance of the driving range to the 16th hole, and later took five people from the golf course.

The third round had been suspended for about 30 minutes at the time of the lightning strike. Fans had been asked to seek shelter.

High-profile names including Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka have been contending for the championship this week.

The winner on Sunday will receive $15 million (£12.3m), the sport's biggest payout.

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.

One man was killed and five others injured while sheltering under a tree at the 1991 US Open at Hazeltine in Minnesota.

Two months later, another spectator died when struck while walking to his vehicle at the PGA Championship at Crooked Stick in Indiana.

However, while players and caddies are loaded into vehicles and taken back to the clubhouse in such situations, fans are left to seek their own shelter, and may lack the time to leave the course safely or choose not to do so.