AUGUSTA, Ga. – Golf enthusiasts eagerly awaited the start of the 88th Masters Tournament, only to be met with a delay due to adverse weather conditions. The highly anticipated opening round saw a delayed commencement at 10:30 a.m. ET, two and a half hours later than initially planned as storms passed through the area in the early hours of Thursday.
Originally, Erik van Rooyen and Jake Knapp were set to tee off at 8 a.m. local time, following the traditional tee shots of Honorary Starters Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Watson. Despite the early morning rain clearing, forecasted high winds of 30-35 mph gusts posed challenges for the rest of the day, with only a 40% chance of showers.
Weather conditions for the remainder of the Masters Tournament seemed more favorable, with a forecast of mostly sunny skies and increasing temperatures throughout the week, reaching the mid-80s by Sunday. However, the late start of the opening round meant it would not conclude on Thursday, with the final group of Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa, and Tommy Fleetwood scheduled to tee off at 4:30 p.m., and sunset approaching by 8 p.m. in Augusta.
Notably, golf legend Tiger Woods faced the prospect of an unfinished first round and the need to play more than 18 holes on Friday to maintain his streak of making the cut at the Masters for a record 24th consecutive time. With the clock ticking and challenges ahead, Woods joined the field in navigating the unpredictability of the sport while striving for success on the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club.