Rain plays spoilsport

The scheduled start of the 69th US Masters was delayed by 5-1/2 hours on Thursday due to the persistent threat of lightning at Augusta Natio...

The scheduled start of the 69th US Masters was delayed by 5-1/2 hours on Thursday due to the persistent threat of lightning at Augusta National.

Play, put back for the fifth time by organisers, was scheduled to begin at 1330 local time (1730 GMT) with a two-tee start “due to dangerous weather continuing in the area”, organisers said.

“The second round will also be a two-tee start, with the tee times to be announced,” they added in a statement.

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The Masters becomes the ninth event out of 15 to be hit by the weather on this season’s PGA Tour, including the last four.

American Jonathan Kaye had been scheduled to launch the first of the year’s four major championships off the first tee at 0805 hrs.

Kaye, playing his third Masters, has been grouped with compatriot Ted Purdy and Britain’s David Howell for the first two rounds.

Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms were forecast to sweep across the par-72 course later in the afternoon. However, the weather forecast for the next three days is a lot more optimistic with a possibility of showers on Friday and mainly dry conditions at the weekend. (Reuters)