Stormy Weather Causes Over Two-Hour Delay in Masters Tournament Start

“First Round of Masters Tournament Braces for Thunderstorms and Strong Winds”

On Thursday morning, Masters officials announced that the first round of the tournament would kick off at 10:30 a.m., with the gates opening for patrons at 9:30 a.m. Additionally, the Honorary Starters Ceremony is scheduled to commence at 10:10 a.m.

However, the National Weather Service in Columbia is predicting a high chance of rain, estimating it at 90% for Thursday. Alongside the rain, strong wind gusts are anticipated to reach speeds of up to 45 mph.

To address the potentially hazardous conditions, the weather service has issued a wind advisory spanning from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The advisory warns of gusty winds capable of moving unsecured objects. Even this weather causing tree limbs to fall, possibly leading to power outages. Driving may also become challenging due to the intensity of the winds, so extra caution is advised.

According to the latest forecast, the peak of the wind gusts is expected around 10 a.m. on Thursday. Similarly, rain and thunderstorms are projected to reach their peak at the same time, gradually tapering off by 1 p.m.

For those attending the tournament, it’s advisable to pack a rain jacket or bring an umbrella to stay dry in case of rain. If they forget, they can buy a Masters umbrella at the event for $45.

If the weather turns bad. Augusta National will display a weather warning sign on scoreboards and message boards to keep everyone informed.

Masters tee schedule:

The competition at the Masters will kick off with Erik van Rooyen and Jake Knapp teeing off at 10:30 a.m. Later in the day, Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa, and Tommy Fleetwood will start their rounds at 4:30 p.m. In between, there are several exciting groupings, including one featuring two major storylines of the tournament.

One notable grouping includes World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who will play alongside Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele starting at 1:12 p.m. Following them, the reigning champion Jon Rahm will tee off at 1 p.m. with Nick Dunlap, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, and Matt Fitzpatrick.

For those following the action from home, it’s recommended to check out the complete 2024. Masters TV schedule and coverage guide to keep up with all the excitement throughout the week.

Among the early groupings on Thursday, notable players like Hideki Matsuyama, Justin Thomas, and Will Zalatoris will tee off at 12:48 p.m. Another exciting trio includes Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland, and Cameron Smith, starting their round at 1:24 p.m.

As the day progresses, more star players will take to the course. In the afternoon wave, all eyes will be on Tiger Woods, who is scheduled to tee off at 3:54 p.m. Woods, a 15-time major champion, aims to continue his impressive streak of making cuts at the Masters, now in its 24th consecutive year. He’ll be paired with Max Homa and Jason Day for the first two days.

Also featured in the afternoon are other top players like Brooks Koepka, Tom Kim, and Brian Harman, along with Ludvig Aberg, Jordan Spieth, and Sahith Theegala, teeing off just minutes later. These are just a few of the standout names in the Masters field, which CBS Sports has ranked 1-89 ahead of Thursday’s play.