Golf: Masters schedule could be struggle

New Zealanders Craig Perks and Phil Tataurangi believe Masters officials will struggle to complete 36 holes in a day after heavy rain forced the first round to be postponed yesterday.

They, fellow New Zealander Michael Campbell and 90 other players were left cooling their heels when rain left the course unplayable.

Nearly 7.5cm of rain has been dumped on the Augusta National course since Tuesday.

After pushing back start times in the hope the rain would ease, officials postponed the round until today. It was the first time since 1936 an entire Masters round was rained out.

The decision to abandon play caught the New Zealanders off guard.

"There is nothing we can do about the weather and it's obviously taken it's toll on the golf course, but I think we are going to be struggling to get 36 holes given the weather still expected," Tataurangi said.

"It is as much mentally demanding playing this golf course once, let alone to play it twice in one day.

"You will need to be fit from the shoulders up as well from the shoulders down."

Tataurangi was due to tee off in the company of American amateur Ryan Moore and Arnold Palmer, 73, a four-time Masters champion.



Perks was on the practice putting green and due to be out in the second group from the 10th tee when he learned of the decision.

"It is going to be tough to play 36 holes," he said. "A better decision would have been to play 18 first, then 18 the next day and make the cut, and play 36 holes on the last day."

Campbell had arrived at the course and had just made his way to the practice range when play was abandoned.

"Never as a professional have I experienced conditions like this going into a major," he said last night. "I got here on Monday and it has been raining ever since. I just hope we can squeeze in two rounds on one day."

- NZPA