Weather likely will bring another delay of game
Web posted
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Mother Nature likely will get a chance to soften Augusta National Golf Club today.
The forecast calls for a 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service. Breezy conditions with winds of 15 to 20 mph are expected, and the high will be in the mid-70s.
The silver lining, at least for Masters Tournament officials, is that the weather system is expected to move through the area pretty fast once it gets here.
Tournament officials got their wish as the first two rounds played in perfect weather conditions. The players and patrons got to see how the course, which was lengthened to 7,445 yards, plays in fast and firm conditions.
Weather delays and the Masters have gone hand in hand the past four years.
Starting in 2002, each tournament has been affected in some way by weather, but always has ended as scheduled on Sunday evening.
The last Monday finish at the Masters came in 1983.
If weather does delay play today, tournament officials at least won't have to deal with a full field.
The 36-hole cut was made Friday, almost reducing the 90-man field in half.
Reach John Boyette at (706) 823-3337 or john.boyette@augustachronicle.com.
Watered down
2001: No rain
2002: Rain delayed second round
2003: Rain postponed first round until Friday
2004: Adverse conditions delayed first round
2005: Rain delayed first and second rounds
Today's forecast
According to the National Weather Service, today will be mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain before noon. From 1-4 p.m., rain and thunderstorms are likely.
Visit our weather page for a complete forecast.
