MASTERS TOURNAMENT The bloom is off at Augusta

Associated Press

AUGUSTA, Ga.

Something is missing from the Masters this year, a tradition that ranks right up there with Amen Corner, endless roars on Sunday afternoon and the winner’s green jacket.

Color.

Red, pink and white azaleas that typically are ablaze for the opening round, have lost their bloom or were wilting fast.

The beautiful contrast of white against the lush course comes from sand in the bunkers, not dogwoods.

Spring arrived early in many parts of the country this year, and not even Augusta National was immune.

“I saw them, but it was last week,” defending champion Charl Schwartzel said, referring to the signature shrubs.

“I was here a week ago last Thursday, and they were beautiful. But the first thing I thought was, ‘They’re all going to be gone.’ I thought Augusta would be able to do something — get the fans on them or something. It’s weird.”

The 13th hole has an estimated 1,600 azalea bushes — that’s why it’s called “Azalea” — yet there are only a dozen or so bushes behind the green that still have blooms. Fans on the course Monday for a practice round posed for pictures in front of one azalea bush whose pink flowers rested on a bed of pine needles.

It’s not the first time this has happened, and if nothing else, it should put the rumors to rest that Augusta National packs ice on the azaleas to keep them from blooming until Masters week.

Those aren’t the only rumors.

“I always heard they had hot and cold water running through the pipes to control when it blooms,” Jonathan Byrd said.

The golf won’t suffer. Players have raved about the conditioning at the Masters, and the excitement level is higher than usual for the first major of the year. Tiger Woods, who played nine holes early Monday with Mark O’Meara, comes into the Masters as the favorite after winning at Bay Hill two weeks ago.

Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy both won in the last month, trading spots at No. 1 in the world. Hunter Mahan has won twice. Schwartzel is trying to join Woods, Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus as the only repeat winners at Augusta.