The rain wasn’t the problem Friday because there wasn’t much of it.
Lightning was the main concern of Augusta National officials. Radar showed the dangerous stuff was in the area, which is the reason play was suspended at 4 p.m.
“We got a little [weather system], and it’s going all the way around us and has not been hitting us,” said Will Nicholson, chairman of the club’s competition committee. “There’s a bunch of rain and some lightning just to the east of us, and I think it will be here before too long.”
There was some feeling among the players that officials didn’t start early enough to get more holes in. The first round was resumed at 9:45 a.m. With so much golf on the agenda, and with rain in the forecast in the afternoon, Nicholson was asked why play didn’t begin at 8 a.m., or even earlier.
Nicholson said the reason centered on the fairways, not television. Officials had hoped to mow the fairways, which hadn’t been cut since Wednesday. But the course still was too wet to get it done.
“We lost that time because we couldn’t mow,” Nicholson said.
“Our primary concern is the players and the condition of the course for them to play the game we are here to see.”
Nicholson stressed the tournament will go 72 holes, and that the plan is to get them all in by Sunday night. The forecast looks good for the next two days, although Nicholson isn’t raising his expectations.
“I would not speculate,” he said.
Solution?
“I think what we should do is find all the drought-stricken areas in the world and schedule a PGA Tour event there,” Nick Price said. “That would take care of things.”
Long day
Jack Nicklaus stood at 6 over through six holes of the second round. With the 10-shot rule, that put Nicklaus only one shot off the cut line. After the second round, the field will be cut to the low 44 and ties plus all others within 10 shots of the lead.
That means Nicklaus, 65, could be in for a long day if he manages to qualify for the third round. He says he is up to the task.
As for the rain interrupting his rhythm, Nicklaus said, “It has been so long since I’ve worried about that, I don’t remember.”
Steady play
Mark Hensby, who opened the first round with a 69, remained at 3 under with eight straight pars to open the second round.
“I’m driving the ball straight and hitting a lot of greens,” Hensby said.
