Storms delay start of Masters

Unhealthy climate delayed the beginning of the 88th Masters at Augusta Nationwide on Thursday with world No 1 Scottie Scheffler and second-ranked Rory McIlroy scheduled to tee off in a dream first-round pairing.

Rain and scattered thunderstorms had been forecast to maneuver into the area at round 6am and had been anticipated to final till about lunch time, doubtlessly inflicting havoc to the primary spherical schedule.

Honorary starters Gary Participant, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson had been because of get proceedings underneath method at 7:40am, with the primary group teeing off 20 minutes later.

Nonetheless, about three hours earlier than the deliberate begin, Masters organizers mentioned on X: “Gate openings and tee instances have been delayed till additional discover. The primary spherical is not going to start earlier than 9am.”

Unhealthy climate compelled down timber at Augusta Nationwide, in Georgia, in 2023.

Scheffler, searching for his second title in three seasons, was in a gaggle with four-time Main winner McIlroy, who would full a profession Grand Slam with a Masters triumph, and Tokyo Olympic champion Xander Schauffele, chasing his first Main victory.

By taking the Inexperienced Jacket, McIlroy would be a part of a choose group together with Woods, Nicklaus, Participant, Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan. McIlroy has not gained a Main in 10 years however has realized he wants endurance at Augusta Nationwide.

“This golf course will get you to chase issues a little bit greater than different golf programs,” he mentioned. “It all the time tempts you to do one thing you assume you are able to do and I’m fairly assured in my golf sport. I believe I can do most issues.

“Generally you simply must take the conservative route and be a little bit extra disciplined and affected person.”

Scheffler, who gained twice and completed second final month in PGA Tour occasions, may be a part of Woods as the one gamers to win the Masters twice whereas atop the rankings.

“The winds are going to be fairly excessive and it swirls like loopy round this place,” he mentioned, earlier than information of the delay. “It’s important to keep so affected person and belief in all facets of your sport.”

Schauffele hopes to lose his tag as probably the greatest present gamers and not using a Main title.

“It’s undoubtedly what motivates me as a golfer and as a competitor simply to maintain pushing,” Schauffele mentioned of a Main victory.

The function trio had been scheduled to tee off at 10:42am, 12 minutes after Spain’s defending champion Jon Rahm, England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and 20-year-old American Nick Dunlap.

Rahm may develop into solely the fourth participant to seize back-to-back Masters triumphs after Woods, Nicklaus and Nick Faldo.

“I do really feel recent and prepared for it,” Rahm mentioned.

Reigning US Open champion Wyndham Clark, Norway’s Viktor Hovland and Australian Cameron Smith, the 2022 Open winner, are collectively behind Scheffler and McIlroy.

Woods, returning to Main golf after proper ankle surgical procedure final April however nonetheless struggling to stroll 72 holes, will attempt to make the Masters lower for a report twenty fourth consecutive time to interrupt to mark he shares with Participant and Fred {Couples}.

However the five-time Masters winner talks about one other report – the six profession Masters victories by Nicklaus.

“If every little thing comes collectively, I believe I can get yet one more,” Woods mentioned.

Woods was imagined to tee off at 1:24pm alongside fellow American Max Homa and Australian Jason Day.

A bunch behind them are 2023 Open winner Brian Harman, 2023 PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka and South Korean Tom Kim.

5-time Main winner Koepka and Rahm are amongst 13 gamers from Saudi-backed LIV Golf within the Masters discipline, with six-time Main winner Phil Mickelson and Koepka sharing second final yr behind Rahm, who jumped from the PGA Tour to LIV in December.

Eyes will probably be on the LIV gamers’ outcomes as merger talks proceed between the PGA Tour and LIV’s backers, the Saudi Arabian Public Funding Fund.

There are 20 first-time Masters starters hoping to develop into the primary rookie winner since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

This yr’s newcomers embody Ryder Cup star Ludvig Aberg of Sweden and Clark.

“Stats like that should be damaged,” Clark mentioned. “That may be an incredible accomplishment. And I like my probabilities.”

© Agence France-Presse