AUGUSTA, Ga. — When Jon Rahm hit his tee shot to start his second round at this year’s Masters, the sun was shining and the temperature was in the low 80s.
By the time Rahm completed his round about 20 hours later, rain was falling and the mercury plummeted more than 30 degrees into the high 40s.
Welcome to Augusta National in the springtime.
A wild — and frightening — 24 hours turned Augusta National from a dry, fast track the first two rounds into a sloppy mess Saturday. Conditions were so ripe Thursday and Friday that it helped two players (Brooks Koepka and Rahm, who got in nine holes Friday before play was halted) get to double digits under par through 36 holes for the first time in Masters history.
While few managed to survive Saturday without being scarred, one of those was Koepka who is seeking to win his fifth major, and first Masters, in wire-to-wire fashion.
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Koepka marked his ball on the seventh green when play was suspended for the day with a four-shot lead over Rahm, who bogeyed the fourth and fifth holes, and needing to make an 11-footer for par. He was one of 11 players under par for the round when it was called.
At the time, the round was playing 53-over par. The first round was played in 33-over par.
“It’s obviously super difficult,” Koepka said. “Ball’s not going anywhere. You’ve got rain to deal with, and it’s freezing cold. It doesn’t make it easy.
“You’ve got to make some pressure putts. You know it was going to be a difficult day. You’ve just got to grind through it and try to salvage something.”
Now, Koepka and Rahm are faced with playing 29 holes (plus a putt or two) Sunday.
“I’m not too concerned,” Koepka said. “It’s part of the deal. I’m pretty sure I’ll be up for it considering it is the Masters. So I don’t think anybody should have a problem with that.”
Players went from sweating through their logo-covered golf shirts Thursday and Friday to seeking warmth in their pullovers and waterproof pants Saturday. Oversized commercialized Umbrellas were essential.
Still, the mood Saturday was one of relief and thanks after the harrowing videos of three trees toppling near the 17th tee box during play Friday started making their way around social media.
The fact that no one was injured, or worse, was miraculous. It started with one pine tree coming down after being caught in a wind gust and taking down two others as it fell to…
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