AUGUSTA, Ga — Play was suspended a second time at 4:22 p.m. ET Friday during the second round of the 2023 Masters Tournament after two pine trees fell near the 17th hole at Augusta National Golf Club.
The incident was captured on video during ESPN’s live coverage of the tournament.
“I was sitting, looking, waiting for the next group to come up to the tee and it fell maybe 8-10 chairs to our left,” said patron Megan Hill, of Manhattan, New York. “I stood up and screamed and thought, ‘Is it going to fall on me? It fell to the left of us and it was so scary.
“If the wind had been blowing a slightly different direction, we might have got hit.”
Hill claimed that no one was hurt. ESPN’s on-site host Scott Van Pelt also reported there were no injuries, which was confirmed by the Augusta Chronicle.
Volunteers secure the area around where a tree fell near the 17th tee during the second round of the 2023 Masters. (Photo: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Network)
It wasn’t long before grounds crews were on site with chainsaws to clear the trees.
An announcement from the clubhouse shortly after horns sounded to stop play said: “There are thunderstorms approaching the area with heavy winds and lightning. Play has been suspended.”
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Earlier in the second round, play was suspended 21 minutes for severe weather in the area.
Rain and wind has been in the forecast for Friday and Saturday.
Tree down at the masters?! pic.twitter.com/t30Pm5eoxx
— Boston (@BostonTgolf) April 7, 2023
A tree just fell at Augusta. #Masters pic.twitter.com/deAw69ap7v
— Pete P (@peteypalmetto) April 7, 2023
Fallen trees on the 17th hole during the second round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
A security guard moves patrons away from trees that blew over on the 17th hole during the second round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Friday, April 7, 2023, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Authorities investigate the scene where trees fell on the 17th hole during the second round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Friday, April 7, 2023, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
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