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Bad weather could shorten Masters practice

3 minute read

Thunderstorms have forced Masters officials to suspend Monday's practice round and could see Tuesday washed out in the lead up to the Augusta major.

ADAM SCOTT of Australia walks the ninth hole during the second round of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.
ADAM SCOTT of Australia walks the ninth hole during the second round of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Adam Scott's habitual radar-watching as an avid surfer has come in handy as wild weather in Augusta threatens to take a full day of practice away from Masters hopefuls.

A combination of rain, strong winds and thunderstorms forced tournament officials to suspend practice on Monday and send patrons from the hallowed turf of Augusta National Golf Club.

It is forecast to get worse with rain and thunderstorms, likely resulting in practice being completely cancelled for Tuesday.

But 2013 Masters winner Scott, who often surfs with 11-time world champion Kelly Slater, was watching the weather forecast from his Bahamas base last week.

It prompted the 38-year-old to play a full 18 holes with his pro golf father, Phil, on Sunday at Augusta - rather than the more common nine holes per day leading up to Thursday's first round.

Scott also made a reconnaissance mission to Augusta two weeks ago to play practice rounds and to bring caddie John Limanti up to speed on how he likes to tackle the famed Georgia golf course.

"This weather is good for me because I feel like I allowed for it," Scott told AAP after a nine-hole session on Monday.

"I was looking forward into the weather forecast all last week.

"I played 18 yesterday and all the practice I did last week was designed to arrive at Augusta and not be searching for anything."

But Scott isn't the only one of the four Australians who feels prepared for the 83rd Masters.

Jason Day was the first Australian to arrive for Masters week, arriving on Friday, and has either played nine holes or practised his short game on the course on each of the four days.

Australia's most in-form player on the PGA Tour, Marc Leishman, arrived on Sunday and, with two nine-hole practice rounds already under his belt, welcomed the bad weather.

"No, losing a day of practice doesn't bother me at all," he said on Monday.

"I will happily sit at home and play with the kids. I have a late Wednesday tee time in the Masters Par 3 competition.

"I may not even come to the course tomorrow if it's putrid."

Cameron Smith, the top Australian at the Masters last year in a share of fifth place, arrived on Monday morning for a practice round alongside 2000 Masters winner Vijay Singh.

Smith practises regularly with Singh at TPC Sawgrass in Florida and admitted he picked the former world No.1's brain on playing Augusta.

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