Augusta National Golf Club won't release figures for how much rain gear its gift shops sold Saturday, but let's just say the signature hats of the Masters Tournament probably were not the hottest sellers for a change.

Patrons head for the gates after the announcement of the weather delay at about 1 p.m. (Annette M. Drowlette/Staff)

Droves of fans streamed out of the main gift shop with either green-and-white oversize umbrellas or rain-repellent pullovers.

"How many people are here?" said Mansfield, Texas, resident Eddie McGough, who purchased a pullover and an umbrella. "I bet they sell 20,000 umbrellas - easy."

"I'm sure they won't have any trouble paying bills with what they sold in umbrellas, that's for sure," said Peter Willis, of San Diego.

McGough's wife, Karen, who also bought a pullover, priced at $64, didn't seem bothered by the rain. It's always raining when she's at the best-known golf course in the world.

"It's done this every time I've ever been here," she said. "The last four years in a row. Two years ago, we trudged around in mud up to our ankles. We saw a lot of people slipping and falling on their heinies."

Martin Mulligan, a Wilmington, Del., native who now lives on Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Ga., said he wanted to buy two umbrellas in the morning because he assumed they'd be sold out by the afternoon.

"I came in here just to get the Augusta National umbrellas," he said. "They'll be gone quick."

Mulligan and his friend of 40 years, Rick Lloyd, of Wilmington, said they didn't mind the rain.

"A bad day at Augusta is better than being in sunshine anywhere else," he said. "We don't take it for granted."

Bill Deehan, of Alpharetta, Ga., and his companion from Boston, Chris Pyne, walked out of the gift shop with umbrellas after strolling without them for awhile. When it started pouring, they decided it was a wise investment.

Chris Jones, of Macon, Ga., watches in the rain as Sergio Garcia gets ready for his next shot. At left, patrons wait to pass through security at the course gates. The threat of dangerous weather forced Augusta National to delay the opening of the course by an hour, creating longer lines early in the day. (Andrew Davis Tucker/Staff)

"I'm fine with the weather," Deehan said. "It's a Saturday, and we're watching the Masters. I couldn't care less."

Reach John Kaltefleiter at (706) 208-2213.

Today's forecast

The outlook is good for the last day of the Masters Tournament. The weather today is expected to be mostly sunny, with a high of 71 degrees and a low of 43.

Visit our weather page for a complete forecast.

Source: Accuweather

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