Bad weather arrived bang on schedule to delay the start of the 69th Masters.

After delightful weather for the entire tournament build-up, it started raining about 7.20am local time, with rumbles of thunder prompting officials to keep the course closed to spectators.

The first tee time, scheduled for 8.05am, was pushed back at least 90 minutes, although any morning start at all seemed problematic with a strong front expected to push through the region during the day, and more than 25 millimetres of rain forecast.

Still, with a good weekend forecast, and the small Masters field of just 93 players, there should be little difficulty completing 72 holes by Sunday night, even if no play is possible on Friday.

It is the sixth time in the past eight weeks that weather has disrupted a US PGA Tour event, and the last two tournaments have finished on Monday.

A record eight Australians are in the Masters field - Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Mark Hensby, Peter Lonard, Nick O'Hern Rod Pampling, Craig Parry and Adam Scott.

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