Start of Masters delayed by 30 minutes due to thunderstorms at Augusta

Tiger Woods due off just after four pm as Padraig Harrington starts Irish challenge

Inclement weather has delayed the Masters at Augusta. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

The start of play in the first round of the 86th Masters has been delayed due to bad weather.

Thunderstorms which forced Wednesday’s par-three contest to be abandoned continued through the evening and overnight in Augusta.

Tournament officials announced that the first group would start at 13.30 local time instead of 13.00pm, with Tom Watson joining Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player as honorary starters at 13.15pm.

The trio will hit tee shots on the opening hole before retiring to the clubhouse.

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Tiger Woods will tee off at 16.04pm Irish time following his remarkable recovery from injuries sustained in a car accident in February last year.

Padraig Harrington will be the first Irishman on the course at 13.41pm Irish time. Shane Lowry is next at 15.31pm, while Seamus Power and Rory McIlroy tee off at 17.54pm and 19.33pm respectively.