The severe weather in the Southeast suspended play Wednesday at the Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.
“The course will be closed for the remainder of the day,” the Masters Twitter account says.
Earlier in the day, before the Par 3 Contest began, the course was evacuated. Play started at 12:30 p.m. ET, the same time the gates reopened to patrons. The event originally was scheduled to start at noon ET.
Only two players, Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, finished the nine-hole course.
The Par 3 Contest, which has been taking place since 1960, occurs the day before the start of the Masters Tournament. According to the Masters website, tournament participants, noncompeting past champions and honorary Invitees are invited to participate in the Par 3 Contest.
No Par 3 Contest winner has followed that with a Masters Tournament victory that same week.
The 81st edition of the Masters Tournament starts Thursday.