The Masters: Brooks Koepka leads by three as trees fall and Round 2 is suspended
- With Koepka running away from the field, patrons at Augusta National were scurrying from three towering trees crashing to the ground
- Second round is scheduled to resume at 8am local time on Saturday, but rain began to pour after the course was closed on Friday night
On a day when Brooks Koepka was running away from the field, patrons at the Masters found themselves scurrying from three towering trees crashing to the ground.
Rain and swirling winds on Friday afternoon caused three Georgia pines to fall near the 17th tee box at Augusta National, narrowly missing the scattering spectators but flattening several chairs. It was a frightening reminder of how quickly a situation can turn tragic.
Tournament officials immediately suspended play – for the second time that afternoon, actually – and ultimately decided to scuttle competition for the day. The second round is scheduled to resume at 8am EDT on Saturday, although rain began to pour after the course was closed on Friday night.
It proved to be a good day for Koepka, the four-time major champion who teed off in the morning and shot a bogey-free round of 67, following a 65 on Thursday. He is atop the leader board at 12 under, with Jon Rahm second at nine under through nine holes. Amateur Sam Bennett matched his opening-round 68 and is third at eight under.
Counting Friday, adverse weather has led to schedule adjustments in five consecutive Masters.
Heading into this year’s tournament, there had been rain in 47 of the first 86 Masters, with eight days postponed. Four of those days were made up by scheduling 36 holes in one day: 1936, 1938, 1939 and 2003.
