Weather wreaks havoc on first practice round

Monday was a day of starts and stops for players and patrons at Augusta National Golf Club.

The first practice round for the 81st Masters Tournament was interrupted twice by weather. The first came shortly before noon when weather warnings were posted on the course. Play was suspended and patrons were asked to leave.

After the storm passed through, players returned to the practice area after 1:30 and the course was opened for players and fans alike at 1:45.

Then, just before 2:30, Masters officials announced that they had received new information about a fast-approaching storm. Play was suspended for good and patrons were sent home at 2:30.

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“You can’t control the weather,” Paul Brundell said as he and his wife, Nina, along with about a dozen others, hung out near the Washington Road CVS, hoping to get back on the course. “We’ll just have to come back again.”

Patrons who were lucky had ponchos or umbrellas, but others walked along Washington Road with their heads down, completely drenched. Some chose to find shelter at the nearest buildings. Clusters squeezed in bus stop shelters or under building overhangs. Restaurants within walking distance were packed.

Mark Salvatore, of Kansas, was one of many standing under the overhang at the Washington Road Wendy’s. Even though rain poured off the building onto his side, he was smiling and laughing with other patrons. One of the strangers offered him a seat in his fold-up Masters chair while they waited on their rides.

Salvatore got the ticket to Monday’s practice round — something off his bucket list — as a 60th birthday present from his wife.

“It’s Disneyland for golf,” he said. “It’s more beautiful than it is on TV.”

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Randy Smith and Linda Raices, of Nashville, forgot where they parked their car when the first downpour came. They were stranded outside a fast-food restaurant and couldn’t help but laugh.

“We were so excited to get here we forgot where we parked the car,” Raices said.

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The Brundells, of Iowa, were also in good spirits during the first rain stoppage, but they have a tip for patrons: Write down contact information.

Like many people who rely on their cell phones, the Brundells don’t have phone numbers memorized and the Augusta National has a no-cell-phone policy. Many who were dropped off at the gate were left stranded with no way to call.

“Definitely have a Plan A and a Plan B, ” Paul Brundell said.

Caylen Young and Cynthia South made their way toward the gate with a mass of other patrons as rain began to fall heavily early Monday afternoon.

Despite their day being cut short, the two South Carolina residents didn’t let it dampen their smiles or their matching Masters Tournament pink pullovers.

The two shopped early and carried bags as they walked out. They considered it a smart decision considering that lines grew long by noon and were soon cut off by the weather threat.

“If we had waited, we wouldn’t have been able to get in,” South said.

Father and son Roger and J.T. Ross arrived early Monday “with a hope and a prayer” of attending the practice rounds during J.T.’s spring break from college.

The drive from Danville, Ky., paid off – they picked up two practice-round badges in Augusta “for half what they’re going for online” and secured a hotel room in Columbia, an hour away.

The pair walked all but four holes before officials began evacuating the course at 11:45 a.m. because of rain, Roger Ross said.

“Everybody we have dealt with who works here has been super nice,” he said.