Play suspended at Augusta as tree falls near crowd
High winds and lightning have halted play at Augusta as two trees are blown down near the crowd on the 17th. Early reports are of no injuries.
On Friday, play was suspended twice during the course of the day for inclement weather. On the second occasion, ESPN’s live coverage captured the moment that one of two pine trees came crashing down near the crowd on the 17th green.
Sergio Garcia reported that he could hear it from the 15th green, saying, “It sounded like a grandstand blew over, super loud. Two trees fell down from the roots and took another one on the way down. People scattered around them but there was one woman that the trees fell around her and somehow she didn’t get hurt. Thank God.”
Play was stopped and an announcement from the clubhouse said, “There are thunderstorms approaching the area with heavy winds and lightning. Play has been suspended.” The course was duly evacuated.
Earlier in the day, play had been suspended for around 20 minutes due to severe weather in the area.
As play was halted, Brooks Koepke was sitting atop the leaderboard at 12 under, three ahead of Jon Rahm. Sam Bennett was at eight under in third with Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa were tied for fourth at six under.