BREAKING NEWSAugusta National EVACUATED just three days before the Masters starts READ MORE: Vijay Singh set to miss the Masters as former winner withdraws By ALEX RASKIN and REUTERS Published: 16:47 BST, 7 April 2025 | Updated: 17:01 BST, 7 April 2025 Augusta National Golf Club was forced to evacuate the grounds on Monday as weather conditions worsened amid the first practice round ahead of the 89th Masters. 'Due to inclement weather conditions, Augusta National Golf Club was forced to suspend Monday's practice round and evacuate the grounds at 11:25am. Further updates will be provided and shared on Masters.com once available. Showers and thunderstorms have been reported along the Georgia-South Carolina border, with winds between 10 and 15mph. Thunderstorms are expected in Augusta through the early afternoon, although rain could fall until late at night, according to Weather.com. As for the rest of the week, things should improve. There are some showers expected Friday morning, but forecasts aren't currently showing any major precipitation through Sunday's final round. General view of patrons after play is suspended during Monday's practice round in Augusta Augusta National Golf Club was forced to evacuate the grounds on Monday as weather conditions worsened amid the first practice round ahead of the 89th Masters Inside ultra-secret world of Augusta: Masters nirvana is patrolled by security and phones are BANNED Defending champion Scottie Scheffler is the man to beat at this week's Masters where Rory McIlroy, oozing confidence after a marvelous start to the year, makes his 11th and perhaps best shot at completing the career Grand Slam. Played amidst the blooming azaleas, towering pines and flowering dogwoods at Augusta National, the Masters may be the most anticipated of golf's four majors and this year's edition is no exception given a plethora of compelling storylines. Not even the absence of Tiger Woods, a five-times champion and golf's top attraction who is recovering from surgery to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon, can dampen enthusiasm for an event that marks the spiritual start of spring. Much of the excitement ahead of this year's Masters revolves around Scheffler and McIlroy, the two best players in the world, who are in great form and could deliver a final-round duel for the ages if they are both in contention on Sunday. 'I think that it sets up to be headlined by those two. I really do. I think you have to begin there,' veteran broadcaster Jim Nantz said on CBS Sports' Masters preview call. World number one Scheffler, whose season debut was delayed by about a month after hand surgery following a December cooking accident, finished runner-up at his Masters tune-up in Houston for his third top-10 in six starts on the year. A win for Scheffler, who first triumphed at Augusta National in 2022 and has a game that appears to be a perfect fit for the layout, would make him only the fourth golfer to retain a Masters title and first since Woods in 2001-02. 'It's his happy place,' said Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee. 'He can go there and play his normal game, and everybody can struggle to beat him. That's just how good he is and how great a fit Augusta National is for him.' GeorgiaMasters Share or comment on this article: Augusta National EVACUATED just three days before the Masters starts Add comment