Augusta National, GA …

Patrons have been left short-changed and scalpers left holding tickets with the weather playing havoc to this year’s Masters at Augusta National.

All up over the three days of official practice, there was five weather delays and with two of those evacuation warnings for players to leave the course and patrons to leave the premises.

On Monday there was two delays due to the threat of lightning but near 3pm local time officials sounded a tornado warning that fortunately just  missed the course but left a trail of destruction less than a mile away at the northern end of Washington Road.

Then today just 26 of the 94 competitors got to tee-up in the annual Par 3 Contest.

Missing out on teeing-up was Masters hot-favourites Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth while the most holes anyone played was Canadian and 2003 Masters champ, Mike Weir who was three under through seven of the nine holes.

And given the warmer-than-normal winter Augusta enjoyed there’s very distinct and noticeable lack of flower power at the Georgia golf gem.

Little wonder Augusta National Chairman, Billy Payne remarked: “Regrettably, the same warm weather that propelled our course and greens to near‑perfect condition caused our normally spectacular azaleas and other flowers to bloom three weeks early that.

“That premature bloom, combined with recent consecutive hard freezes, has diminished our otherwise beautiful and traditional colouring.

“So, this year, we have decided that our colour of choice is green, Augusta Green, and I hope you will agree that it is both abundant and beautiful.”