2024 Masters Tournament | Thursday Updates

Patron gates are now open for the first round of the 88th Masters Tournament. The tournament begins with the honorary starters at 10:10 a.m. followed by the beginning of competition at 10:30 a.m. after a two-and-a-half-hour weather delay.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) - Patron gates are now open for the first round of the 88th Masters Tournament. The tournament begins with the honorary starters at 10:10 a.m. followed by the beginning of competition at 10:30 a.m. after a two-and-a-half-hour weather delay.

"The weather around here is kind of interesting this time of year," said Augusta resident Luke List, playing in his third Masters Tournament. "It looks like we're going to have a nasty one overnight and the morning. Not much we can do about it. It's kind of just see how much it dumps and how it will change. Everybody's in the same boat as far as, we've done all this preparation, but it will probably play different (Thursday), so I think that that's kind of the unique thing about golf is we're all on a level playing field when we get started."

The morning storms are expected to give way to gusty winds throughout the late morning and early afternoon. After the delay, another Masters tradition continued when the Tournament began with the honorary starters: Six-time champion Jack Nicklaus, three-time champion Gary Player and two-time champion Tom Watson.

"It's always a nice experience to open up the Masters, and Gary and I have had the privilege of doing that for a few years," Nicklaus said after hitting his shot to begin the 85th Masters Tournament. "It's fun."

"I've had the privilege of having a great friend and a man that I admire so much in Jack Nicklaus, the greatest gentleman that ever played golf, without a question," Player said.

For updates on Thursday's schedule, including groupings and start times, click here.

This story will be updated throughout the day.