Play was suspended during the second round of The Masters due to heavy winds in Augusta that sparked frightening and dangerous scenes.
Wild weather was predicted for golf’s first major of the year and play was first delayed for 21 minutes before it was suspended at 4:21pm local time on Friday.
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Tournament officials pulled players off the course and spectators were told over a megaphone to leave as the wild weather started to kick in.
There were frightening scenes when a massive tree near the par-4 17th hole was uprooted and toppled over completely.
The broadcast cut away from Sergio Garcia, zoomed out and captured the tree veering toward the ground as fans scrurried away from danger.
In total, three trees in a cluster snapped and fell over but thankfully no one was injured in the freak incident. It’s a miracle no spectators were hit by the trees.
“Oh good gracious watch out,” one TV broadcaster said.
“Oh my god, I hope everybody’s OK.”
The forecast didn’t make for pretty reading as heavy rain, wind and lightning approached Augusta.
Tournament officials later confirmed play had been suspended for the day and would resume on Saturday morning local time.
In a statement, Augusta National Golf Club said it “can confirm that no injuries were reported from the three trees that were blown over to the left of the No. 17 tee due to wind.
“The safety and well-being of everyone attending the Masters Tournament will always be the top priority of the Club, which will continue to closely monitor weather today and through the tournament.”
And the weather isn’t expected to ease over the weekend, which could delay play and mean the winner will most likely be crowned much later than the traditional time of Monday morning Australian time.
The suspension of play came with 39 players yet to complete their second rounds.
American and Brooks Koepka had the early clubhouse lead at 12-under, three strokes ahead of Spain’s third-ranked Jon Rahm, who still had the back nine to finish, and four strokes ahead of US Amateur champion Sam Bennett.
Koepka is one of 18 players from the rebel LIV tour competing at The Masters and is in prime position to win his fifth major and first green jacket.
Australia’s Jason Day followed up his excellent opening round with an even par second round to be tied for sixth at 6-under, while 2013 champion Adam Scott is still in the mix at 4-under after he also shot an even par round.
Fellow Aussie Cameron Smith was eight holes through his second round before play was suspended, and still has a faint hope of victory after he pulled off an outrageous fairway bunker shot to shoot an eagle on the eighth to move to 2-under.
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy (+5) and Tiger Woods (+2) were at risk of missing the cut for the remaining rounds.