First round of Masters Tournament delayed due to thunderstorms, rain
In 2023, severe weather caused play to be halted at the Augusta National Golf Club. Despite numerous weather delays, the tournament was still able to conclude on a Sunday. Tiger Woods is expected to be one of 89 players to participate in the Masters Tournament in 2024.
First round of Masters Tournament delayed due to rain, thunderstorms
Officials announced Thursday morning that the first round of the Masters Tournament would be delayed until 10:30 a.m. due to rain and thunderstorms in Augusta, Georgia.
AUGUSTA, Ga. – The first round of The Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia, was delayed on Thursday due to a storm system moving across the Southeast that brought heavy rain and thunderstorms to the region.
Officials of the Masters Tournament first announced late Wednesday afternoon that it would delay all gate opening on Thursday morning due to the forecast weather conditions.
The deadly storm system was tearing across the South and along the Gulf Coast at the time and produced tornadoes and flash flooding across that region.
DEADLY SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK SLAMS NEW ORLEANS WITH FLASH FLOODING, TORNADOES ACROSS SOUTH
(FOX Weather)
It was then announced early Thursday morning that gate openings would be delayed until further notice, and the first round of the Masters Tournament would not begin before 9 a.m.
A few hours later, it was announced that the first round would begin at 10:30 a.m. at the No. 1 tee, with gates opening at 9:30 a.m.
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(FOX Weather)
The heaviest precipitation and thunderstorm activity have cleared the Augusta area, and there's only a chance for some light showers and possibly a thunderstorm or two before clearing later on Thursday.
After that, it's smooth sailing with sunny conditions expected through the weekend and temperatures ranging from the lower 70s on Friday to the mid-80s on Sunday.
![Signage that reads 'Play Suspended' on the leaderboard as fallen trees are seen on the 17th hole during the second round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia.]()
Image 1 of 2Signage that reads 'Play Suspended' on the leaderboard as fallen trees are seen on the 17th hole during the second round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images)
![Course officials look over fallen trees on the 17th hole during the second round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia.]()
Image 2 of 2Course officials look over fallen trees on the 17th hole during the second round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
The Masters Tournament is no stranger to inclement weather due to its early-April timing.
In 2023, storms triggered delays and even caused several trees to fall among spectators. Despite the stormy weather, the tournament was able to conclude around nightfall on Sunday, with no one reported to be seriously injured.
HOW WEATHER CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOUR GOLF GAME
Precipitation also impacted tournaments in 2022, 2019 and around half of all other years since the 1930s.
Despite Mother Nature’s history of producing adverse weather, only a handful of tournaments have had a Monday finish, including in 1983 and 1973.
The Augusta Chronicle reported that in 1973, 2.5 inches of rain fell on the course and forced Round 3 to be postponed, which caused the last round and the winner to be crowned the green jacket on a Monday.