The Masters: Storms at Augusta on Friday caused two pine trees to fall close to spectators, and another tree to fall away, but no one was hurt, and the second round of The Masters was postponed.
Storms were anticipated throughout the day, but tournament organisers hoped to complete the second round as planned by moving all starting times up by 30 minutes.
The morning started off hot and muggy with plenty of suns, but long afternoon, threatening clouds rolled in from the east.
When the first band of storms moved across the area, the course had already been cleared for 21 minutes. Around 4.22 p.m. local time, another set of storms moved in, bringing heavy rain and the possibility of lightning.
Two big pines fell close to the 17th tee box just as the horns started to play, sending the nearby customers running for shelter. As soon as they arrived, workers with chainsaws started cutting up the downed trees.
There were initial worries that customers might have been wounded, but it soon became clear that everyone in the area had made it out safely, and this was confirmed in a formal announcement.
The declaration said: “The three trees that were knocked over to the left of the No. 17 tee by the wind can affirm that no injuries were reported.
“The club’s primary focus will always be ensuring everyone’s safety and wellbeing while they are watching the Masters tournament. Through the competition, we will keep a close eye on the weather.
“Officially halted for the remainder of the day is the second round. At 8 a.m. EDT on Saturday, the game will resume. As planned, the ticket gates will open at 7 a.m.”
‘Important decisions must be made by Augusta National.’
Fortunately, we were able to save everyone. We were fortunate.
The response of people who saw the event further demonstrated how fortunate the spectators were to avoid harm.
On 15, we were reaching the fairway’s top. Sahith Theegala, who is competing in his maiden Masters, stated, “We initially believed it to be a scoreboard or grandstand. We were hoping nobody got hit.”
“I was seated, looking, waiting for the next group to come up to the tee when it collapsed maybe eight to ten chairs to our left,” eyewitness Megan Hill told the Augusta Chronicle.
“I shouted and stood up, wondering whether it would collapse on me. It collapsed to our left, and it was very terrifying. We might have been hit if the wind had been blowing in a different direction.”
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