AUGUSTA, Ga. — On Monday, preparations for the Masters Tournament encountered a hurdle as practice sessions were halted due to intensifying rain and the looming threat of thunderstorms. Subsequently, spectators were ushered off the iconic golf course as a safety precaution.
Initially, Augusta National intended to restrict fan access to the course earlier in the morning. Nevertheless, with only a light drizzle at play, visitors were allowed to enjoy the grounds for roughly three and a half hours before the conditions worsened.
Meteorological forecasts painted a picture of stormy weather persisting throughout the afternoon, with projections for severe weather conditions and rainfall accumulations of one to two inches. Despite this, the outlook for the rest of the week appeared more favorable, with expectations of predominantly sunny skies and temperatures soaring into the 70s Fahrenheit (low 20s Celsius).
Despite the gloomy weather, only a handful of players ventured out for practice rounds on Monday. Among these early birds were Keegan Bradley, Matthieu Pavon, and Thomas Detry, who each opted to practice solo on the rain-soaked course.