AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Masters is expected to get off to a rough start with thunderstorms and high winds expected in Thursday’s season opener at Augusta National.
There will be a 90% chance of showers and thunderstorms by 1 p.m., with wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph from 8 a.m. to noon.
That would create a potentially dangerous situation, potentially causing tee times to be postponed and the end of the first round Friday to be postponed.
Last year’s Masters was also affected by weather, with second round play postponed to Saturday and third round play to Sunday, with eventual winner Jon Rahm and runner-up Brooks Koepka playing 30 holes. did.
Friday’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies, a high of 72 degrees and winds of 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Saturday and Sunday are forecast to be sunny and comfortable temperatures.
Meanwhile, the players are preparing for Thursday’s conditions.
“The golf course is hard enough without the weather,” Gary Woodland said. “The golf course is really perfect so I think it’ll be fine with some rain. It’s solid and fast now. Perfect. The golf is tough enough without the wind so it’s going to be a challenge but who knows?” We will all have to face it.”
There was a great white shark sighting in Augusta National Park on Wednesday.
Greg Norman, who famously failed to win the Masters, entered the venue with a ticket as a patron.
Norman, who famously played in 23 Masters and finished runner-up three times, is the commissioner of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour, but has not played in a Masters since 2021, when he worked for SiriusXM radio. It wasn’t.
The Washington Post first spotted Norman on the premises with several LIV executives.
“I’m here because we have 13 players who have won the Masters 10 times,” Norman told the paper. “So I’m just here to support them. Do whatever you can to show them, ‘The boss is here rooting for you.’ ‘
Norman was vague when asked about the status of peace talks between LIV and the PGA Tour.
“To be honest, LIV is completely autonomous about it,” he said. “I didn’t know what any of the conversations were about, but I’m happy with this because we’re focused on delivering what we promised the world.”
Norman was lamenting that there were no LIV players on the field other than the 13 guys here.
“I think there are probably a couple that have been overlooked that should be included,” Norman said. “What is that number? I’m not going to give you a hard number, but they are definitely quality players who have put in incredible performances over the last six to nine months that deserve that number. ”
Lack of world ranking points has prevented many LIV golfers from participating in this year’s tournament
Tommy Fleetwood becomes the second British golfer to lose a caddy at the Masters this week, with Tyrrell Hatton also having to bring in an emergency replacement.
Fleetwood’s regular caddy Ian Finnis has returned to England to recover from a chest infection that has plagued him for most of the season, while Hatton’s man Mick Donaghy suffered a bruised shoulder in a fall at the weekend. and is recovering.
Hutton flew Hugo Dobson, a former England U18 teammate who plays on satellite tours, while Fleetwood flew Gray Moore, a veteran of 30 years at Augusta and the club’s former caddy master. I decided to use him.
“He hasn’t been good all year,” Fleetwood said of Finnis. “Right now he’s at home trying to recover and get proper treatment. Hopefully he’ll come back sooner rather than later. It’s definitely different without him. We’ve spent the last eight years pretty much every… We have participated in tournaments together.”
