Irish ripe to blossom among azaleas

IT wasn’t just the players who were in a quandary as to the kind of golf course they would wake up and find at Augusta this morning.

The green jackets of the National club were also in a dilemma as to how they should best set up their prized item as the world’s greatest went in search of the 69th title.

The weather forecast had a key role to play with rain virtually assured overnight. That in turn would help to take some of the steam out of the fastest greens seen here for many years, so it will be interesting to see the reaction of the officials.