[VIDÉO] Terrifying scene at the Masters: three huge trees collapse near the spectators

AUGUSTA | Mother Nature played spoilsport this afternoon in the second round of the Masters Tournament in Augusta. It caused damage and scared hundreds of spectators around the 17th tee and the 16th flag green. Shaken by the strong winds that had risen, three huge trees fell on the course.

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The terrifying scene took place shortly before play was suspended at 4:22 p.m.

Huddled around the mound, the “bosses” began to thrash and scatter as branches fell from the tall pines measuring over 100 feet in height. A few seconds later, under the force of the gusts, a tree fell, dragging the two others down to the ground. One of them collapsed on the tee box.

Looking carefully at the footage, we see a woman trying to flee the place. Two trunks graze her, falling on either side of her and miraculously escapes.

Fortunately, Augusta National management said in an official statement that no spectators were injured.

“The safety and well-being of everyone visiting the Masters will always be the club’s priority. We will be attentive to the weather conditions throughout the tournament”, can we read on the missive.

The maintenance crew was hard at work quickly cutting the tree into logs within an hour of the jitters as the area was evacuated. It’s not everyday you hear the chainsaws at Augusta National!

Two interrupts

After a glorious morning in Augusta, clouds covered the sky and thunderstorms threatened. Officials suspended play for the first time at 3:07 p.m. due to impending severe weather. Golfers and “bosses”, however, remained on the course to let the threat pass. Action resumed 20 minutes later.

Minutes after the trees fell, the arrival of sustained rain and the rise of another storm cell, officials suspended play at 4:22 p.m. It was done for the day.

Having given a second card of 67 (-5), Brooks Koepka provisionally leads the Masters with a cumulative record of -12. But several golfers in the main draw did not complete their round, including Jon Rahm. The Spaniard is second at -9 after leaving the course at the ninth flag. Viktor Hovland, at -6, and Cameron Young, at -5, must also complete more than eight holes.

The second round should resume at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning if possible, as thunderstorms are expected.

The capricious weather will still do its thing. According to forecasts, the mercury will not exceed 10 degrees Celsius and the clouds will dump nearly 60 mm of rain. Winds are expected to blow up to 40 km/h.

It is not impossible that this third day of competition is simply suspended. In this case, there would be a very strong probability that the final round would be played on Monday. A first since the 1983 edition.