AUGUSTA, Ga. — Call it a curse. Call it a coincidence. But history indicated we were likely to see a healthy dose of the wet stuff this week at Augusta National.
Twice in the past 50 years has the Masters Tournament required a Monday finish — and each ended with 3: 1973 and 1983. And in every tournament ending in a three going back to Jack Nicklaus’ first Masters win in 1963, rain has played its way into the storyline.
Fifty years ago at the Masters, a longtime bridesmaid finally tied the knot at Augusta National. Georgia native Tommy Aaron overcame the stigma of 14 runner-up finishes in 12 years on the PGA Tour to win the biggest tournament of his career.
“I’m forever thankful it rained that Saturday in 1973,” said Aaron. “It all clicked for me on the range Monday morning.”
“This might be the year another Monday finish happens,” said Craig Stadler, who was the defending champion in 1983.
Stadler and Raymond Floyd were tied for the lead after three rounds in 1983 before the Walrus blew up with a Monday 76. Did the Monday finish have an impact?
“Well, I definitely didn’t play very well,” Stadler said. “But you can’t do anything about the weather. You’re at the mercy of the gods.”
In addition to 1973 and 1983, the 1993 Masters fell victim to adverse weather, causing Friday’s round to be suspended. In 2003, Thursday’s round was postponed because of storms, while two rounds were scheduled for Friday.
“It looked dicey on Friday (in 2003),” said champion Mike Weir. “I wasn’t sure if we’d be able to finish on Sunday. But once we got through Saturday’s round, we were in the clear.”
In 2013, the course saw rain throughout, but no round was affected. Eventually, Adam Scott beat Angel Cabrera in a playoff.
And all the way back in 1963, Jack Nicklaus came to Augusta National as the reigning U.S. Open Champ and at the ripe age of 23 he engaged in a soggy battle with Tony Lema, Julius Boros and San Snead.
“It poured down rain in 1963. The 13 fairway had water from the top of the slope to the creek, and it was 100 percent casual water, but they wouldn’t let you drop because there was no place to drop. They said play on, and we kept playing on,” Nicklaus recalled this week after the Honorary Starters ceremony. “And I said, surely they are going to wash this round now. Nobody is going to finish this round. Sure enough, the skies broke open and we finish and I get onto the 18th green.
“I looked up on the leaderboard, and there was a set of ones on the leaderboard, and I looked at my caddie, and I said, ‘Willy’ — and I’m colorblind. I said, ‘How many of those ones up there are red?’
“He said, ‘Just you, Boss.’ ”
Nicklaus went on to collect the first of his six green jackets that afternoon, topping Lema by a single stroke.
As for this year, the horn sounded Saturday afternoon during the third round, suspending play for a third time in two days as heavy rain continued to fall and standing water began to pool in areas around the course. Tournament officials made the official announcement at 3:15 p.m. ET.
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