AUGUSTA, GA—Severe thunderstorms in the Richmond County area forced organizers to move the first round of the 2011 Masters indoors to nearby John M. Tutt Middle School, tournament chairman Billy Payne announced Thursday.
According to Payne, the school offers gorgeous corridors lined with rows of lockers, exquisitely manicured floors, panoramic vistas of breathtaking stairwells, sparkling water fountains, and classrooms lush with desks and chairs that create a stern test for the world's finest golfers.
"As soon as the heavy rain started falling, I knew we would have to move quickly to a secure indoor venue," said Payne, addressing reporters from the principal's office, which also serves as the course's opening tee. "It would have been a shame if weather forced us to cancel the Masters, but luckily Tutt Middle School is very close by and provides a spectacular setting for the tournament."
"From the 445-yard first hole, a challenging dogleg left down the math wing into the library, to the signature sixth hole, a tough little par three that starts up in the gym bleachers and ends in the boys' locker room shower, this environment will force competitors to summon all of their skills," Payne added.
http://www.onionsportsnetwork.com/articles/thunderstorms-force-pga-organizers-to-move-masters,19951/