‘Basically impossible’: Rain, cold turns Augusta National into torture chamber 

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The neatest individuals wore golf spikes. The rivals, clearly, however patrons, too. It was a sloppy day at Augusta Nationwide and tennis footwear had individuals slipping. Similar for rain boots. 

Resulting from inclement climate, the second spherical needed to be accomplished early on this third day of the Masters, and beneath wildly totally different situations. When Justin Thomas hit his first shot on the eleventh gap, late Friday afternoon, it was 70 levels. When he hit his second shot on the eleventh, at 8 a.m. Saturday, it felt like 48. The ropey, low draw he hit tumbled down the hill and dove into the pond. Saturday was solely going to worsen. 

God bless the patrons who filed onto the bottom and god bless the staffers who greeted them, water spilling off the payments of their hats. “Welcome to the Masters,” a safety guard stated with a smile. His type phrases had been principally drowned by the squish-squishing of toes.  They usually name Saturday “Shifting Day” on the Masters, however this was extra like “Sustaining Day.” Dig your heels in and maintain regular. Even if you happen to’re only a fan. 

At 10:10 a.m. it was completely dumping.

At 10:20, simply spraying. 

10:50: We would truly be at a water park. 

11:30: Lastly, only a gentle mist. By then, the second spherical was completed, the reduce was made and we might lastly ask about it. 

“It’s mainly inconceivable,” Cameron Younger stated. “I don’t actually know what you’re imagined to do.”

“It felt like a unique sport as we speak,” Mackenzie Hughes stated. “If we play this afternoon, it’s not going to be nice,” Seamus Energy added.

The temperature had risen to 50 levels however the feels-like temp had dropped to 45. Sadly, all of them knew the principles. “So long as there’s no thunder, we’re going to be taking part in.” That was Patrick Reed. There was no thunder, however there was much more rain. The beanies got here out. The present goes on.

1:38 p.m.: It’s downpouring once more. Gamers had became drier garments.

1:56: Hey! It’s nonetheless raining, however it’s a pleasant calm rain. 

2:02: Dumping once more. And for the remainder of the day. 

Why is taking part in golf within the rain so robust? Water droplets on the face of a driver can ship the ball squirreling to the best. “Even proper out of the center of the face,” Younger stated. 

Additionally, “The ball simply goes nowhere,” Viktor Hovland added. At 2:55 p.m., within the absolute thick of it, Tiger Woods pulled his membership again on 16 and was instantly disgusted upon affect. His shot by no means cleared the pond, resulting in double bogey. Like Vik stated, the ball goes nowhere. Adam Scott was taking part in two or three golf equipment longer than approaches he hit earlier this week. Meaning 3-iron on the 18th, if you happen to’re fortunate. Thomas needed to play a wooden. It was a last-ditch transfer that ended with bogey. He shot six over on the day’s closing seven holes and was headed house.

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If we might ask Patrick Reed one query, right here in hindsight, it might be this: would you like it to thunder? His reply would in all probability be sure. He began with birdies on 2 and three earlier than making three bogeys over the following six. Quite a few others did the identical. Phil Mickelson reached six beneath however back-tracked to 4. Collin Morikawa reached seven beneath however back-tracked to 5. Justin Rose as much as six deep, then again to 4. Even Jon Rahm, who had tempered the climate sufficient to get into the ultimate pairing, reached 11 beneath earlier than shortly backing as much as 9. Annoying the remainder of the sector was Brooks Koepka, impervious to all style of distraction, even Mom Nature. He’s at 13 beneath and main the event by 4. However he has a 30-hole Sunday gauntlet forward of him due to Saturday’s showers.

Hours of rain pummeling the course makes it lengthy, it makes the chips skid and the wedges rip. That’s a unique kind of golf. However when the greens are made agency and supposed to be quick, it’s unsustainable golf. The placing surfaces bubble over the purpose of saturation. At 3:15 p.m., horns blew throughout the property, which was to be anticipated. Solely it got here with a barely surprising message: we’re clearing the course, not for an hour or two however for the remainder of the day. See y’all within the morning. It was a welcome shock.