Augusta National was hit hard by severe weather again on Monday, with heavy rain and possible lightning strikes leading to the suspension of practice play at the Masters. The storied golf course is still recovering from the devastation last September when Hurricane Helene caused mass destruction and loss of life across the south-east United States.

Bob MacIntyre remarked on the changes: "There are quite a lot of holes you are looking at and going: 'I don't remember being able to see that hole through the trees'. When you are walking on the 15th fairway, you can see I think the fifth green through the trees. And on 16, we were walking down and I was like: 'Something looks different.' That is Mother Nature."

Players and spectators were ushered out at 11.25am on Monday as officials halted the day's activities. While a warmer, dryer spell is expected over the next three days with temperatures reaching 24 degrees Celsius, there remains a 40 per cent chance of rain showers on Friday.

The Masters faces another year troubled by the elements, with this incident potentially marking the seventh consecutive year that adverse weather has interfered with the tournament's schedule.