The Masters 2024: Will bad weather and thunderstorms disrupt opening round at Augusta National?

10 April 2024, 12:32 | Updated: 10 April 2024, 23:43

The Masters is scheduled to get under way on Thursday, exclusively live on Sky Sports, but could thunderstorms and strong winds impact the opening round at Augusta National?

Adverse weather delay has forced at least one suspension in play in each of the past five editions of The Masters, while rain has been experienced in over half of the 88 previous editions of the event.

Sunshine conditions and light winds greeted the players for Wednesday's practice round, as they had the previous two days, although the weather is set to change for the opening round of the major season.

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The latest forecast has a '90 per cent chance' of showers and thunderstorms on Thursday morning, with wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hour expected, with the possibility of storms returning again later in the day.

The weather issued by tournament officials at 6pm Wednesday (11pm BST) said: "A secondary stronger band of heavy rain and thunderstorms along a cold front is forecast from 6-11am (11am-4pm BST) Thursday.

"Occasional wind gusts of 40-45 mph are anticipated from 7-11am (12pm-4pm BST). A lull in precipitation should occur behind the cold front through 3pm (8pm BST) before scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms drift back into the region for the late afternoon and evening hours. Rainfall of 1.50-2.50 inches is forecast through Thursday evening."

A bulletin from tournament officials on Wednesday evening added: "Due to forecasted weather on Thursday, we have decided to delay patron gate openings in the morning."

Strong winds continue into Friday, with gusts expected to reach 30mph, although conditions will be less humid and sunshine is scheduled to return.

The weekend forecast is about as perfect as the tournament could hope for, with warm and sunny conditions and winds significantly less than the previous two days, meaning the event will be able to get back on track if there are any delays earlier in the week.

"Windy conditions persist Friday under mostly sunny skies as a dry and stable airmass settles into the area," the weather update said. "Mostly sunny skies can be expected through the weekend with west to south-westerly winds in the 7-15 mph range."

The Masters has not finished on a Monday since 1983, when Seve Ballesteros claimed a four-shot victory, with that run set to continue this week despite the questionable forecast for the opening day of the tournament.

When is The Masters on Sky Sports?

Wall-to-wall coverage from the tournament begins at 2pm over the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday, with Featured Group action and regular updates from around the course available to enjoy on Sky Sports Golf until the global broadcast window begins at 8pm.

There will be lots of extra action throughout all four days via the red button on Sky Sports Golf, along with Sky Q and Sky Glass, providing plenty of bonus feeds and allowing you to follow players' progress through various parts of Augusta's famous layout.

Sky Sports Golf will show extended build-up content over the weekend and occasional live updates from the course before the global broadcast window starts at 8pm for the third round and 7pm for the final day, with early action available throughout via the red button.

Who will win The Masters? Watch live from April 11-14 exclusively on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins with Featured Groups on Thursday from 2pm on Sky Sports Golf. Stream The Masters and lots more golf with NOW.

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