Georgia may be on your mind — but probably so is the weather.
The Masters has dealt with weather hurdles over the last few years, literally and figuratively casting a black cloud over golf’s most prestigious tournament.
The 2023 Masters befell the same weather fate not once, but twice.
Friday’s weather forecast wasn’t particularly aesthetically pleasing for patrons and golfers looking to make their way to Augusta National for Round 2 of the Masters. Tee times were moved up by 30 minutes with rain expected to fall in the afternoon, and play in the tournament was officially delayed at 3:07 p.m. ET because of it.
The good news was that the first delay lasted just 21 minutes.
The bad news is that the return lasted under an hour before officials on hand had to blow the horn once again.
As such, the inclement weather is expected to get in the way a bit as golfers vie for the green jacket. Now, it’s just a question of how much the weather will impact this weekend’s schedule.
In 2022, treacherous weather in the Augusta area jeopardized the event, but ultimately, golfers faced just a small, half-hour delay in tee times in Round 1.
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Here’s what to know about this weekend’s wet weather in Augusta:
Augusta weather forecast for 2023 Masters
Friday, April 7 forecast
Wet weather was expected to factor into Friday’s Round 2, but the question was when exactly things would turn dreary. The official PGA Tour forecast released early Friday indicates those with later tee times will be at greater risk of a weather delay, with rain chances growing from 30 percent at 11 a.m. ET to 60 percent at 3 p.m. and thunderstorms likely to pop up in the afternon.
Friday weather forecast for the Masters Tournament#theMasters pic.twitter.com/YWPC8i78W1
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) April 7, 2023
Here’s how the weather is looking for Friday:
Hourly forecast from the National Weather Service
- Friday morning: “A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 74. Southeast wind 5 to 8 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.”
- Friday night: “Showers, mainly before 4am, then rain after 4am. Low around 48. Northeast wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.”
Ultimately, play was suspended at Augusta National as of 3:07 p.m. ET. The Masters announced the decision on social media and communicated that more updates would come in as they are made available.
Due to inclement weather conditions, Augusta National Golf Club was forced to suspend play at 3:07 p.m. EDT and, subsequently, evacuated the grounds.
Further updates will be announced once available. #themasters
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 7, 2023
That said, the delay lasted just 21 minutes overall. That is good for the shortest weather delay in Masters history, per Justin Ray.
Unfortunately, the clear skies didn’t last long. Play was suspended once again just 54 minutes after it resumed. This time, it was due to the looming threat of thunderstorms and heavy winds in the area.
Due to inclement weather conditions, Augusta National Golf Club was forced to suspend play at 4:22 p.m. EDT and, subsequently, evacuated the grounds.
Further updates will be announced once available.
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 7, 2023
It isn’t clear whether play will be able to resume on Friday amid the conditions threatening Augusta National. Jim Nantz said on ESPN’s broadcast of the event that the course was being evacuated, as several trees in the area had been taken down by the wind.
Add in the thunderstorm potential and there’s no guarantee that they will be able to finish play on Friday. Nor is there certainty that the golfers will be able to tee off on Saturday either.
Saturday, April 8 forecast
There is a 100 percent chance of rain and it is expected to be windy and cold on the course. It isn’t yet clear if they will wait out the weather or if they will try to get through the day if the precipitation remains light.
Here’s how the weather is looking for Saturday:
Hourly forecast from the National Weather Service
- Saturday morning: “Rain and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 51. Northeast wind 15 to 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.”
- Saturday night: “Rain, mainly before 2am. Low around 44. Breezy, with a northeast wind 16 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.”
Published at Fri, 07 Apr 2023 20:31:00 +0000
