AUGUSTA, Georgia — A scary scene occurred Friday afternoon at Augusta National when several trees collapsed on the 17th hole during the second round of the Masters.
The Augusta area was hit by strong and steady gusts of wind on Friday, and a storm front caused several delays in the competition. Before play was stopped a second time around 4:22 p.m., television cameras captured towering pine trees falling to the right of the 16th green, where the group of Min Woo Lee, Larry Mize and Harrison Crowe were playing.
Video shows guests were near where the trees hit the ground while marshals and officers ran towards the fallen pines.
Early indications from witnesses are that no one was injured, although the trees narrowly missed nearby guests, according to Golf Digest photographers. Several seats were destroyed by the trees. Golf Digest photographers photographed workers cutting down the stumps of several damaged trunks from the fallen trees.
Sahith Theegala was on the 15th par 5 when the accident happened.
“We climbed the fairway to 15, came over the hill and heard it and we were like, ‘What is that?'” Theegala told ESPN. “We thought it was like a scoreboard or a grandstand… we just hoped it wasn’t something that hit anybody. Yes, but it was crazy. Bang bang… the tree falls first and the siren.”
After the game was suspended, the property was evacuated.
At 5:45 p.m., Augusta National released the following statement: “Augusta National Golf Club can confirm that there have been no reported injuries from three trees blown down to the left of the #17 tee by wind. The safety and well-being of all participants in the Masters tournament will always be the Club’s top priority. We will continue to monitor the weather closely today and throughout the tournament.”
The second round was suspended for the rest of the day. The game resumes at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday morning
This post will be updated as the story develops.
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