Masters start delayed more than two hours due to bad weather

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The first round of the 88th Masters at Augusta National Golf Club has been delayed by 2½ hours Thursday because of inclement weather.

Augusta National Golf Club officials said the first round will now begin at 10:30 a.m. ET and had delayed the opening of parking lots and patron gates.  Erik van Rooyen and Jake Knapp had been scheduled to tee off at 8 a.m. ET as the first group of the day.

The final group of the day -- Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa and Tommy Fleetwood -- is now scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Honorary starters Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson, who combined to win 11 Masters titles in 140 starts in the tournament, will hit their ceremonial tee shots at 10:10 a.m. ET.

A strong band of heavy rain and thunderstorms, with wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph, along a cold front was forecast to hit Augusta from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET Thursday. Rainfall of 1½ inches to 2½ inches was forecast through Thursday evening.

Mostly sunny and warm conditions are expected from Friday to Sunday.