Thunder keeps gates closed for absent protesters

The Masters would never be the same again, they said, but Augusta National remained its usual quiet self yesterday, a refuge away from the world. It is a feeling enjoyed by the (male) members of what is known locally simply as the "National", and their guests (male and female), from October to May, the only months the club is open.

The peace is normally shattered on the Monday of Masters week when the first practice rounds take place and the gates are thrown open to the public. Not yesterday. It had nothing to do with the fear of protesters disrupting the place. Instead some early morning thunderstorms, which deposited over an inch of rain on the course, and a forecast for more which was proved correct at lunchtime, forced the club to keep the gates closed.

It was the first time since 1983 that the gates had not been opened on an official practice or tournament day. Ticket holders will be refunded and offered preferential booking for next year. "We are disappointed that our patrons could not enjoy today's practice round," said the club's chairman, William "Hootie" Johnson. "But our first concern must be safety."

Players were also left wondering if they would be able to get on the course. A few who had already registered headed for the practice range, including Darren Clarke, while Nick Faldo was on the putting green. Justin Rose, who is making his debut here, drove up Magnolia Lane to the clubhouse accompanied by a BBC camera crew.

The huge merchandise tent was also mainly empty, which could cost the club as much as $2m (£1.3m). It is mainly due to the profits from the club shop for the week, which are in the region of $14m, that Johnson could afford to dispense with the tournament's sponsors, who otherwise would pay the $7m television production costs.

Johnson did not want the sponsors, including Coca-Cola and IBM, to be brought into controversy over the club's male-only membership, an issue raised by Martha Burk, the head of the National Council of Women's Organisations. One of the local newspapers, alongside its profiles of the players and a map of the course, also included in their special Masters preview profiles of those involved off the course and a map of protest sites.

Permits for protests here have to be obtained from the local sheriff. Burk and Jesse Jackson have a permit for Saturday. The only official protest prior to the start of the tournament came on Sunday staged by Women against Martha Burk. Their petition was signed by 1,300 women. A group formed in the wake of the brouhaha and calling themselves People Against Ridiculous Protests have said they will not actually protest.

Though the forecast is better for later in the week, more rain is expected before Thursday's start which is bound to make the course play very long. That is not good news for Jose Maria Olazabal, the 1994 and '99 champion, who feels he is struggling with both his iron play and his putting, as well as his driving.

Four years ago Olazabal was also despondent about his game but was inspired by a verbal battering from Gary Player. "We said 'hello' to each other this morning, but there wasn't enough time to go into everything that is going wrong now," Olazabal said.

"What is surprising is my iron play because even when my driving was bad that was always good," he added. "It is frustrating because I am working hard and know the right things to work on but I am just not seeing the results on the course. I feel I can overcome the situation but it could take some time."

But returning to the hallowed champions' locker-room is always uplifting. "However bad my game is being there does give me a peaceful frame of mind. I have won here twice and not many people can say that."