For the first time in years, there will be no rain during Masters week and, while fans at Augusta National are loving the sunshine, the same can’t be said for the players.
As they prepare to head into the crucial weekend rounds, a number of stars have already voiced their concerns over the conditions and how it might affect play.
Among their chief worries is the fact that the warm weather will cause the course to firm up, meaning that precision will be of the utmost importance to the players.
Not only do the warm conditions pose a challenge for players in regard to matching yardage to a club, it will also significantly dry out putting surfaces in Augusta.
As of Thursday, some greens on the course were already seeing a slight change in color. Justin Rose joked: ‘You might get a yellow jacket if you win’.
Meanwhile, after shooting 71 on Thursday, Shane Lowry said: ‘I think this could be the toughest Masters we’ve played in a while. You look at the forecast; they can do whatever they want with the golf course this weekend.’
While fans are soaking up the sun at Augusta National, players have been left concerned
World no. 1 Scottie Scheffler is among the stars who have voiced fears about the state of the course amid a forecast of sun and warm weather over the weekend
‘Over the last few years, we’ve had a day every year where it’s been raining or it’s been heavy rains. It’s kind of helped us a little bit, but I think before the week is out, it’s going to get very, very crusty around here.’
Temperatures will start with highs in the low 70s on Thursday and heat up into the mid 80s over the weekend.
Moreover, there’s no precipitation in the forecast throughout the entirety of the four-day tournament, marking the first time this has happened in 15 years.
Reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy noted: ‘The course is only going to get drier and firmer and faster as the week goes on.’
Meanwhile, world no. 1 Scottie Scheffler said: ‘It’s going to get firm and fast. I would imagine they would like the greens to get fast.
‘I think that increases the challenge of the golf course. I’m excited to see how it plays this week. We might get a little bit of wind too. The golf course is shaping up nicely.’
Similarly, Patrick Reed said: ‘The greens are already getting firm, crusty, and bouncy. I actually broke one tee on the (17th) hole trying to fix a ball mark.
‘You already know it’s going to get crusty. You know it’s going to get fast, and it’s going to take a lot of patience.
Stars fear that Augusta’s notoriously difficult greens will only be made harder by conditions
Reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy noted: ‘The course is only going to get drier and firmer and faster as the week goes on’
‘With what the weather looks like it’s going to be – really hot, sunny – they could make this place really, really hard if they wanted to. I wouldn’t be surprised. We have the best players in the world here. Why not? Challenge us and make it difficult.’
The last time that there was no rain for all four days of the tournament was back in 2011. It’s a phenomenon that has only occurred on 16 occasions in history.
Though the weekend offers some great conditions for fans, they’ve still been left frustrated over the staggering price of beer at Augusta National.
A beer costs a mere $6 (£4.46) each so two, with the customary US tax added on, came to a total of $13.02 (£9.68). That is way cheaper than the prices sports fans are used to paying in stadiums around the world.
The surprising price of beers on the course also comes after fans were left shocked by the cost of other concessions.
While a place in the galleries at Augusta National remains one of the most coveted tickets in sports and costs thousands of dollars, food and drink is one area where the exclusive, mysterious club prefers to keep it simple.
