The opening spherical of The Masters will begin at 3.30pm UK time on Thursday after climate delays at Augusta.

Having introduced early on Thursday morning that the day’s first group wouldn’t tee off earlier than 2pm BST, one hour later than scheduled, organisers subsequently confirmed an additional 90-minute delay earlier than opening play would begin.

Rain had been falling by means of the night time and into the morning at Augusta, earlier than stopping, with organisers anticipating the moist climate to “be a lot lower than forecasted”.

The specter of lightning meant patrons weren’t allowed to enter till 9.30am native time (2.30pm BST), with gusty circumstances anticipated all through the primary two rounds.

All 4 days of the event are solely stay on Sky Sports activities Golf with Thursday’s stay protection below manner from 2pm. Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy tee off in the identical group at 6.12pm, whereas the returning Tiger Woods begins his week at 8.54pm.

What is the forecast for the rest of Thursday and the weekend?

Within the newest climate replace issued by the event, organisers stated forecasts now confirmed that rainfall on the course wouldn’t be as heavy as initially feared, with the specter of thunder additionally receding.

“We’re presently dry with the precipitation shifting to our east,” learn the replace.

“Scattered showers and remoted thunderstorms are 75 miles to the southwest of Augusta transferring to the northeast. This exercise could affect ANGC between 7:30am-9am [12.30am-2pm BST], however present monitor has the lightning menace remaining to our south.

“Peak wind gusts to 40mph will likely be attainable by means of 11am (4pm BST) with sustained winds of 15-20 gusting to 30-35mph persevering with by means of the afternoon. Rainfall totals will likely be a lot lower than forecasted yesterday with further quantities doubtless holding below 0.50.”

Robust winds are set to proceed into Friday, with gusts anticipated to achieve 30mph, though circumstances will likely be much less humid and sunshine is scheduled to return.

Nonetheless, the weekend forecast is about as excellent because the event might hope for, with heat and sunny circumstances and winds considerably lower than the earlier two days, which means the occasion will have the ability to get again on monitor if there are any delays earlier within the week.

“Windy circumstances persist Friday below largely sunny skies as a dry and secure airmass settles into the realm,” a climate replace from the event on Wednesday stated. “Largely sunny skies will be anticipated by means of the weekend with west to south-westerly winds within the 7-15 mph vary.”

Opposed climate delay has compelled not less than one suspension in play in every of the previous 5 editions of The Masters, whereas rain has been skilled in over half of the 88 earlier editions of the occasion.

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

What has the climate been like at Augusta thus far?

Sky Sports activities’ Ali Stafford at Augusta Nationwide:

“The delayed begin to The Masters got here as little shock, with robust winds and heavy rain for Thursday morning having been within the forecast for the previous few days.

“There was loads of heavy rain in a single day and extra storms had been forecast over the subsequent couple of hours.

“The native TV station is displaying the worst of climate is definitely to the south and east of Augusta, so maybe we could not get fairly as a lot rain because the forecast was displaying yesterday.”

When to look at The Masters on Sky Sports activities

Wall-to-wall protection from the event begins over the primary two rounds on Thursday and Friday, with Featured Group motion and common updates from across the course out there to get pleasure from on Sky Sports activities Golf till the worldwide broadcast window begins at 8pm.

There will likely be numerous additional motion all through all 4 days by way of the pink button on Sky Sports activities Golf, together with Sky Q and Sky Glass, offering loads of bonus feeds and permitting you to observe gamers’ progress by means of numerous elements of Augusta’s well-known format.

Sky Sports activities Golf will present prolonged build-up content material over the weekend and occasional stay updates from the course earlier than the worldwide broadcast window begins at 8pm for the third spherical and 7pm for the ultimate day, with early motion out there all through by way of the pink button.

Who will win The Masters? Watch stay from April 11-14 solely on Sky Sports activities. Stay protection begins with Featured Teams on Thursday from 2pm on Sky Sports activities Golf. Stream The Masters and plenty extra golf with NOW.

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