With the Masters Tournament around the corner, people are preparing early. Betting markets are hot, some betting on Rory McIlroy as a favorite despite his recent injury. However, on Monday, April 7th, the practice rounds for the Masters Tournament did not last long. Heavy rains plagued the course as many players saw fit to pack it in for the day. It started with a light drizzle at 8 am, and by 10 am, it was pouring. There were concerns about rain the night before, so spectators brought umbrellas and raincoats. They later found out that they weren’t entirely prepared. And now there are some questions about how soft the course will be for the tournament.
The Players
Most players who were at the practice packed it in when it started coming down at around 10 am. A few did keep playing, this includes Keegan Bradley, Matthieu Pavon, and Thomas Detry. They decided to stick around for an hour and a half before thunder started rumbling in the distance. After thunder was detected in the area, the next thing to do was to get any remaining players off of the golf course, lest they become human lightning rods in an open field. The Monday practice for the Masters Tournament was officially canceled. Safety is, of course, always a priority and is not to be trifled with, but this does mean that there are people who won’t be happy given the circumstances they got there.
The Spectators and Weather Fallout
The fans were a bit disappointed with the experience. They got into the Masters with tickets that were by no means cheap. These tickets are some of the most expensive in sports if they didn’t win the official lottery, only for the event to be rained out and cancelled. Naturally, in situations like this, the fans will want some compensation after spending thousands. Luckily, the chairman of the Augusta National came out and provided said compensation, full refunds for the face value of each ticket. Attendees can expect those refunds to come in May. Unfortunately, anyone who bought a ticket for more on a secondary market will not be compensated for what they paid and will only be given the face value of their tickets. Chairman Ridley put out a public apology on behalf of the Masters for the inconvenience to fans.
“We are disappointed our patrons could not fully enjoy today’s practice round, but the safety of everyone at Augusta National is our Highest Priority and was the determining factor in the decision to cancel,” said Fred Ridely, chairman of Augusta National. “We look forward to welcoming back our Monday patrons next year, as well as celebrating a wonderful 89th Masters Tournament ahead of us this week.”
For fans who went through secondary sources, this may not be enough compensation and will leave them wanting more.
Masters Tournament
Luckily, the forecast only calls for a light rain on Friday during the tournament, so it is very unlikely to push back any tee times or lose a day for the event. Fans can look forward to seeing their favorite golfers play off against each other this week. Favorites like Fred Couples, who almost missed out. Any fan watching from behind the ropes should bring an umbrella, just in case. Quite a start for the event. With the rain out of the way, one of the most anticipated events of the season can begin.
Main Photo Credit: © Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
