The Masters, one of golf’s most prestigious tournaments, was hit by a storm on Friday, bringing down numerous trees and halting play in the middle of the second round. Despite the disruptions, the players persevered, showing impressive skill and determination in the face of challenging conditions. Here’s a closer look at what happened and how the golfers responded to the unexpected setback.
On Friday, a storm that rolled through Augusta National in Georgia caused three pine trees to fall, but fortunately, no one was injured. The second round of the Masters was suspended due to the heavy wind and rain that arrived with the storm. The course was cleared for 21 minutes when an earlier band of storms hit. The air horns sounded again at 4:22 p.m. as another set of storms arrived, forcing the evacuation of patrons and sending players and officials searching for cover. Play was suspended for the day 90 minutes later, and the second round is scheduled to resume at 8 a.m. local time on Saturday before the third round begins.
Just before the second horn sounded, three enormous pines slowly fell next to each other near the 17th tee, sending those below them scrambling. The uprooted pines fell slowly with two of them acting as support for the third, providing time for the patrons below to get out of the way. Several crushed chairs beneath the fallen trees evidenced the close call. Workers with chainsaws quickly arrived to start clearing the trees.
The storms had been expected throughout the day, and tournament officials moved all starting times up 30 minutes in the hopes of getting the second round in as scheduled. Brooks Koepka was the leader at 12 under when play stopped, taking advantage of fortuitous tee times that left him in the clubhouse long before the storms arrived. Jon Rahm was three shots back in second but had nine holes still to play. Tiger Woods was at 2 over and tied for 50th with seven holes to play. The low 50 and ties make the cut, and the five-time champion has never failed to do that at the Masters as a professional. Rain is expected to continue throughout the weekend with high temperatures plummeting into the 50s for Saturday.
As the second round of the Masters Tournament progresses, players and spectators alike are reminded of the unpredictability of Mother Nature. Despite the impressive skills demonstrated on the greens, the arrival of stormy weather has paused the game and caused damage to the course in Augusta. As we wait for the skies to clear, it is a stark reminder of the power of nature and the importance of safety in all outdoor activities. We can only hope for better weather conditions as the tournament continues and applaud the quick response of those who worked to ensure the safety of all involved.
