Stormy greeting in Augusta as favourites abound at Masters

Augusta, which figures in few conversations for most of the year, but is a reference point almost all the time in golf, greeted its visitors with wind gusts up to 49 miles per hour in certain parts of the town.

The severe lashing accompanied by heavy rain in the town was what Monday was all about as the first practice round was stopped twice before it was finally suspended at 2.30 pm as weather conditions were expected to worsen; and they did.

After the first storm passed through, players were allowed to return to the practice area after 1.30 pm and the course was opened at 1.45 pm. But just before 2.30 pm, the officials announced they had received new information about a fast-approaching storm and play was suspended for good and the course closed at 2.30 pm.

The severe weather resulted in more than 20 massive tree falls around the city; traffic lights were knocked out and power outages lasted more than a few hours in more than 80 locations as very strong winds were reported on the north side of Augusta and Lake Thurmond Dam.

Tuesday was expected to be perfect for golf, but weather fury was expected to return with thunderstorms and rain on Wednesday.

Thursday and Friday are predicted to be nice, but very breezy to windy. However, the weekend suggests good golfing weather.

For long, it has been whispered in golf circles that of the four Majors, the Masters is the Major with 'fewest' players, who have a real chance of winning. It has the fewest starters – 94 in 2017 – and they include a bunch of former champions, who have a lifetime's privilege of teeing up at the year's first Major. Yet favourites abound in each field.

Dustin Johnson's name pops up most when you talk of favourites – and why not. He has won each of three previous starts coming into Augusta, but that well may be one of the reasons, why he may not win. Merely, because no one since Jimmy Demaret in 1940 made it four-in-four with the Masters. Ben Hogan, too, came with three-in-three to 1940 Masters, but Demaret beat him to it.

Then, there is another jinx to take care of – no Number 1 since Tiger Woods in 2005 won the Masters as the top-ranked player. But Johnson is not losing sleep over either jinx; He may not even know them. He is the hottest player with a monstrous drive, great iron play and a short game that is beginning to look divine. "I'm hitting it good and feel confident about my game," Johnson said.

Among others Jordan Spieth needs to get over his 'meltdown of 2016' when he blew a five-shot lead last year and lost by three after a second-nine 41. He hit twice into the water and Danny Willett emerged winner. But, Spieth eager to get over 2016, at least knows he has a Green Jacket from 2015.

If ever there is a rookie, who can win it, it has to be Jon Rahm of Spain.

In just 22 PGA Tour events, he already has a win and five top-five finishes this season. Rahm was a lowly 551st when he turned pro last June, but is now No. 12 and touted as the most likely Masters debutant, since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979, to win here.

That should be a boost for young guys as 23-year-old Spieth has already won once this season and another 23-year-old Justin Thomas has three victories. Hideki Matsuyama, 25, has two wins and 27-year-old Harris English and 28-year-old Rickie Fowler have one each. Matsuyama is fourth ranked, Spieth sixth, Thomas seventh and Fowler is eighth. And then keep that name Rahm for ready reference.