If the modern day Michael Fishes - or their American equivalents - are to be believed, then there seems a strong possibility that the 2023 US Masters may be hugely impacted by a depressing weather forecast. With thunderstorms and rain predicted to hit Augusta, Georgia, there have even been rumours circulating that the tournament may have to conclude on the Monday.
Hardly ideal for those of us who love settling down in front of the television for the traditional conclusion to the Masters on the Sunday evening in the UK. Whether first fears will be realised remain to be seen. But if play is extended to a fifth day then it will be the first time this has happened since 1983.
The landscape was a bit different 40 years ago. Weekend television coverage in the UK consisted of just 90 minutes on the Saturday night with two hours dedicated to the final round, ITV covering the tournament that would later become a mainstay of the BBC (via Channel Four in 1984).
There was one welcome change at the 1983 tournament. Player power led to Augusta National officials relenting on their policy that allowed only the club's black caddies to carry the clubs of the participants. George Archer's daughter Elizabeth caddied for her father. Thankfully, times they were a-changing.
However, the 47th Masters still remained a closed shop in terms of being a truly international event. With just 14 of the 82 players coming from outside the US, it was hardly surprising that Americans had dominated the tournament. Only Gary Player and Seve Ballesteros had broken the stranglehold in the history of the Masters.
Ballesteros had high hopes coming into the first major of 1983. The Spaniard had missed out on a play-off by just one shot a year before, and arrived early at Augusta aiming to repeat his win in 1980. "I am confident I can win here again," Ballesteros declared. "But not over confident." Priced at 14/1 for another green jacket, perhaps the bookies shared this outlook.
Some optimistic journalists in Britain also pondered whether Nick Faldo and Peter Oosterhuis could break the glass ceiling and claim a first Masters. Without a British major win since Tony Jacklin won the 1970 US Open, top-six finishes for the pair at the Greater Greensboro Open the week before the Masters had given rise to hope.
Yet outside of Ballesteros there was realistically little threat to the Americans. Tom Watson was installed as 5/1 favourite, with defending champion Craig Stadler at 10/1. Jack Nicklaus was 11/1, despite not winning a major for three years. Greg Norman's odds of 25/1 suggested that his first major would have to wait.
It would be an unhappy tournament for Nicklaus. Shooting an opening one-over-par total of 73, he was forced to withdraw after back spasms left him struggling to walk up the stairs in the clubhouse. Sam Snead shot a 79 and also pulled out, in what would be his last ever major. One former star of the past briefly turned back the clock, as Arnold Palmer opened with a 68. But he would fade away as conditions deteriorated.
There had been a warning of what was to come on the Friday. Heavy rain had disrupted nine of the 12 tournaments played in the US during the 1983 season; floods had caused deaths in the south east of the country, with millions of dollars in damages reported; and play was suspended for an hour on Thursday after lightning and rain.
Friday was a complete washout, with some fears raised that the tournament would have to be abandoned completely, due to the deluge that had hit the course, and the forecast of more to come. The Guardian's Peter Dobereiner painted a picture of the second day.
"Roads turned into streams and the rushing torrent passed the press building, overwhelmed the drain and surged through the door." Calling play off half an hour before the scheduled start was not a difficult decision. "You would have needed a boat to reach the bridge to the 12th green," Dobereiner added.
There was hope that the second round could be completed on the Saturday with two rounds the following day. But soon it became obvious that play would have to be extended into the Monday for the first time in ten years. At this point it looked as if the winner would come from one of Watson, Ballesteros, Stadler, or Ray Floyd.
Floyd had led after the first round, his 67 seeing him level with Gil Morgan and Jack Renner. Ballesteros was a shot off the lead, and Stadler a further shot adrift. And for a time over the first couple of rounds, it seemed as if some of the optimism surrounding Faldo was not completely misplaced.
Out in 33 during his second round, Faldo edged himself a shot behind leader Morgan, although another rain delay slowed his momentum. Nevertheless, at the halfway point both Faldo and Oosterhuis had moved into contention, trailing Morgan by three and four shots respectively.
Yet any hopes of a British triumph evaporated during the third round on the Sunday. Faldo shot a 76, a score that he repeated on the Monday. Oosterhuis slumped to a 78 and although he did recover to card a 72 to finish in a top-24 that earned him a place at the 1984 tournament, the following year would be the last at Augusta for a player who led the Masters after three rounds in 1973.
The British breakthrough would have to wait for another five years. But with his second Masters triumph, Ballesteros would pave the way for future European success. Starting the final round a shot behind joint leaders Stadler and Floyd, a blistering start out of the blocks effectively killed off the chances of his rivals.
A birdie at the opening hole was followed by an eagle at the next - two three-woods setting up the chance - and despite lipping out for a birdie on the third, a successful attempt on the fourth saw the dashing Spaniard move from five-under to nine-under as Stadler, Floyd and Watson struggled to stay in touch.
Watson was the biggest threat. Having won both the US and British Open championships the previous year, the 1981 Masters champion eagled the eighth to move within two. Yet the ninth hole played a big part in deciding the destiny of the Masters. Another birdie saw Ballesteros go out in 31; a three-putt by Watson saw him slip four behind.
Watson's brief hopes faded as he then three-putted both the 10th and 11th holes. When he double bogeyed the 14th, his bid was over. Stadler (76) and Floyd (75) drifted away, with Tom Kite and Ben Crenshaw finishing second, four shots behind Ballesteros. It would be Crenshaw's fifth second-placed finish at a major. A year later, the bridesmaid would finally become bride at Augusta.
Ballesteros did have a couple of scares at 12 and 13, but he confirmed his second Masters by chipping in for par at the last. "The key to my win was the first four holes," he revealed. "After that I felt I only had to stay cool and not make any silly mistakes. It was then up to the others to catch me. And I know Augusta - if you try to force birdies, play aggressively, the course will kill you."
"Seve's start was like a boxer being knocked down twice in the first round," Watson responded. "It was like Seve was driving a Rolls-Royce and we were trying to catch him in a second-hand Chevrolets," Kite joked. Watson also noted that he wished Ballesteros would stay permanently on the PGA tour, such was his pulling power.
"I'm an international player," Ballesteros replied. "I prefer playing in different countries on different course. It's more fun." After his disputes with the European Tour in 1981, Ballesteros had missed out on Ryder Cup selection, adamant that he would never play in the event again. European skipper Tony Jacklin knew what was at the top of his to do list.
Ballesteros would never win again at Augusta, coming desperately close in 1986, 1987 and 1989, as well as being a contender in 1985. He would add two more Opens in glorious fashion at St Andrews and Lytham. Yet he must have been distraught at the ones that got away.
But Seve led where others feared to tread. As he walked down the last in 1985, Ballesteros would see playing partner Bernhard Langer become the second European to win the Masters. By the end of the decade and the start of the next European golf was in full bloom. Seve had sown the seeds for the success that followed.
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