Rain cuts off Niemann’s inspiration: Augusta Masters Saturday day suspended

The rain played a trick on golf this weekend. The traditional Augusta Masters was taking place under a storm. A few days ago, the situation seemed complex. If we go further, Friday the game was interrupted at times and three trees fell on the field. This Saturday, the organization decided that everything would be postponed until Sunday.

After the decision announced that at 8:30 a.m. this Sunday, the competition will continue and that the final round would start, ideally, at 12:30 p.m.

At the time of the suspension, the Chileans were going through different times in the third round. Joaquín Niemann broke into the T7 position, with -4. Despite the weather conditions which complicated all the athletes, the Talagantino had two bogeys and two birdies, at the start of the phase. The second round had culminated in the morning, with the two nationals making the cut.

In the case of Pereira, his participation continued with less luck than that of his compatriot. The one born in Pirque is in the T40, with +2. Mito was playing flag three when the suspension was announced. At the top was Brooks Koepka, with a four stroke lead over Jon Rahm.

Before the rainy day Joaquín Niemann gave his impressions after performing positively in the second round. The National highlighted competing with Mito Pereira, who is his teammate at LIV Golf. “I made a few bad decisions. But I played very well. That’s where I got tangled in the middle, but I quickly found myself (…) It’s good to be able to be in the Masters, with Mito. I saw that he played well today, good for him. Running together, staying in the same house, having been on the team all year, it’s a great gift,” he said.

In any case, the Chilean had anticipated what happened this Saturday. “It can rain all day. We will have to be patient. The panorama may have changed,” he said on Friday.

With the downpour falling on the Augusta National Golf Club every minute, it was more complex to compete. So the organization, around 3:00 p.m., decided that it would no longer be played. According to forecasts, this Sunday the rain would stop there, so the remaining laps will be completed. It is also possible that it will extend until Monday. On this day, according to forecasts, there will also be no thunderstorm.

Leadership was contested by American Brooks Koepka and Spaniard Jon Rahm. The difficulties were best overcome by the North American, who was leading at the time of the suspension. The LIV Golf player, the same league Niemann and Pereira are in, has -13, topping the Hispanic’s -9. Despite the bad weather, Koepka increased his lead in first place.

A lot of expectations had been placed on what the legendary Tiger Woods could do this Saturday. A lot of eyes were on him, because if he made the cut, he would break a record. Something he finally did, but not without difficulty.

On a heavily damaged court, the historic athlete closed the round with 73 shots (+1), added 147 (+3). Those numbers left him on the brink of elimination. However, those following him could not defeat him and, waiting for the last golfer, he received the news that he was advancing. Which means he equals the record of 23 consecutive cups made in this competition.

At 47, the five-time Augusta Masters champion, He was very overwhelmed by the performance he presented. However, those present applauded He followed his step as if he were one of the favorites of the contest.

Just on the day of the climatic complication, the organization announced the prizes that will be distributed in this edition of the Masters. The figures exceed those of 2022, so these are again record figures.

Last year, 15 million dollars were distributed, and the winner, the American Scottie Scheffler, received 2.7. This time it will be 18 million, including a 3.24 check to the golfer who wins at the end of the competition.

In the case of the Masters finalist, he will receive $1.944 million this year. On the other hand, whoever attacks third ranked will get 1,224. Despite the strong distribution, the millions are still far from the 25 that are distributed per competition in the LIV Golf, the Arab financed circuit which has taken the best since the PGA Tour.

Indeed, the current edition of the Masters is taking place in the midst of a war between the two competitions. A few weeks ago, Niemann claimed that PGA players “hate” those who have traded in the past year.