AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The 88th Masters at Augusta National Golf Club got off to a late start after inclement weather Thursday delayed the first round by 2½ hours.

In the first group of the day, Erik van Rooyen and Jake Knapp teed off around 10:30 a.m. ET after being scheduled to start at 8 a.m. Honorary starters Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson, who combined to win 11 Masters titles in 140 starts in the tournament, hit their ceremonial tee shots to open the year's first major.

The final group of the day -- Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa and Tommy Fleetwood -- started at 4:30 p.m. ET. The delay meant those players starting late were unable to finish their opening rounds before sundown.

Play was suspended around 8 p.m. ET Thursday because of darkness with 27 golfers still on the course, including five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods, who was 1 under after 13 holes. The first round will resume on Friday at 7:50 a.m. ET (ESPN). The second round will begin at 8 a.m. ET.

Thursday's round was delayed due to a strong band of heavy rain and thunderstorms, with wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph, along a cold front that was initially forecast to hit Augusta, although the majority of the heavy rain and winds tracked south of the course.

Mostly sunny and warm conditions are expected from Friday to Sunday.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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