No azaleas at Augusta? Some 90 per cent of the Masters’ most famous flower wiped out by frost

THIS year’s Masters could be the dullest ever after some 90 per cent of Augusta’s most famous flower was wiped out by frost.

Azaleas are so common in the year’s first Major that the par-five 13th hole is named after them.

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For years the bright pink and purple plants have provided a stunning backdrop to the world’s best players hitting into the green.

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In 2014 Rory McIlroy had to hit a shot from them after going long and left with his approach.

But unusually warm temperatures in Georgia meant many azaleas bloomed ahead of schedule.

A recent cold snap then saw it drop below zero and as a result some gardeners reported their collection of azaleas ruined.

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Campbell Vaughn, a flower expert who works near the course, told the Augusta Chronicle: “When it’s all said and done, I don’t believe there will be much colour left for Masters week.

“The freeze beat them up bad – really bad.”

Milledge Peterson, who works at Bedford Greenhouses in Augusta, said: “We had an unusual winter.

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“What you see around town in similar to what’s happening inside Augusta National.

“If there’s colour around town, there’s probably colour on the course.”

Gerald Stephens owns Nurseries Caroliniana in Augusta. He said: “Our azaleas had already started to peak when the cold hit.

“They bloomed three weeks early to begin with, and when you combine that with the freeze, that’s not a good situation.”

The weather itself could also add to the woes during Masters week, with rain forecast on three of the four days.

There is also the threat of lightning when Danny Willett gets his defence of the green jacket under way on Thursday week.