The weather for this year’s Masters Tournament may give “less headaches” for both golfers and patrons compared to the last several years, as the event “may avoid its biggest rain threat.” Showers and “perhaps a thunderstorm could move into Augusta Thursday night” after the first round is over, and you “can’t rule out a pop-up shower or thundershower during the day on Friday.” As of now, Friday “doesn’t look soaked,” but if one of those showers pops up in the afternoon, “it could cause a brief delay if accompanied by lightning.” As for temperatures, “expect chilly mornings with lows in the 40s both Saturday and Sunday” as well as “pleasant daytime highs and low humidity” for the entire weekend. Some wind gusts over 20 mph “are possible behind the cold front Friday during the second round,” but, overall, winds likely won’t be “a significant issue” (WEATHERCHANNEL.com, 4/10). Weather conditions “will help dictate how high the pollen counts peak by the time the tournament is scheduled to conclude.” Pollen-cleaning rain on Monday “brought some relief,” but that relief “was gone by Wednesday” (N.Y. TIMES, 4/10).
Augusta National was in “pristine condition” despite the destructive Hurricane Helene that “roared through the region last September and knocked out so many of the Georgia pines.” There is “a noticeable difference, though maybe not to the television viewer.” CBS Sports does not plan to show any before-and-after pictures, “only what Augusta National is like now.” The stand of trees down the left side of No. 1 and the right side of adjacent No. 9 is “thinner.” Certain points up high “reveal a view of Augusta Country Club, previously hidden by trees” (AP, 4/9).
