Masters day one: Weather could disrupt play in Augusta – Golf News

Play on the primary day of the 88th Masters might be disrupted by the climate as Rory McIlroy makes one other try to finish the profession grand slam in Augusta.

Thunderstorms, heavy rain and winds gusting as much as 45mph are all within the forecast as golf’s first main of the 12 months will get underneath manner on Thursday afternoon.

McIlroy tees-off in a heavyweight group that additionally options world primary – and heavy match favorite – Scottie Scheffler at 3.42pm BST.

England’s Tommy Fleetwood has been drawn within the closing group in spherical one for the second successive 12 months, however he won’t let the unsure climate have an effect on his preparations.

“I typically get up and take the climate for what it’s, simply exit and play with the circumstances we get, however I’ve heard the forecast is fairly dangerous,” Fleetwood mentioned.

“The circumstances are going to play a component in how the golf course performs and what occurs there, so we’ll see.”

Is there something new for 2024?

The par-five second has been lengthened by 10 yards through the addition of a brand new tee which has been pushed additional to the left, barely rising the angle of the dogleg left.

Amendments have additionally been made to the fourth and sixth greens to permit for extra pin positions on the higher right-hand aspect.

Who’re the favourites?

The highest three gamers on the planet rankings occupying the identical place within the betting could counsel a scarcity of creativeness from the bookmakers, however it’s arduous to argue with their logic.

World primary Scheffler has completed first, first and second in his final three PGA Tour occasions, whereas McIlroy’s lesson from Butch Harmon resulted in third place within the Valero Texas Open on Sunday.

Jon Rahm’s kind is tougher to evaluate following his change to LIV Golf, however the defending champion had 4 straight high 10s at Augusta from 2018-21.

Key tee occasions (all BST)

1530 – Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Nick Dunlap

1542 – Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele

1824 – Tiger Woods, Jason Day, Max Homa

1836 – Brian Harman, Brooks Koepka, Tom Kim

1900 – Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood

Climate forecast

A chilly entrance is forecast to convey a band of rain and scattered thunderstorms by the area between 6am-1pm native time on Thursday.

Heavy rainfall and occasional wind gusts of 40-45 mph are anticipated over this era.

A lull in precipitation ought to happen behind the chilly entrance between 1-4pm earlier than scattered showers and remoted thunderstorms drift again into the area for the late afternoon and night hours.