Dispatches from the last four Masters had more the annual feel of stop-start test cricket, however, it seemed for a couple of days that summer had come earlier than usual to this corner of Georgia. A year ago, Tiger Woods had to make sure to clean mud off his ball as the second round spilled over into Saturday, whereas early in this tournament, he was reaching for the sun block.

Even though the dry, hot conditions on a brutally long course brought shorter hitters such as Ben Crenshaw into the equation, luminaries like Chris DiMarco, David Toms, Michael Campbell and Lee Westwood all missed the cut. Thankfully, major championships remain unpredictable.

Whereas on a shorter, more forgiving lay-out, Tiger Woods had once humbled the competition by a record 12 shots, the field before the start of yesterday's third round was tightly packed. If the Texan, Chad Campbell, who was voted a couple of years ago by his PGA Tour colleagues as the next great American player, led by three shots, a mere seven shots separated the remaining 46 players who had survived until the weekend.

Everywhere players and their caddies were reaching for their rain gear and umbrellas as a series of heavy showers swept over the course. Jim Furyk, the 2003 US Open champion, who was first to tee off with a marker, beat a path up the opening hole in the gloom with hardly a spectator in sight.

After 36 holes on terrain much of which was as firm as concrete, the cloudbursts meant that the leaders had to readjust to hitting different shots into softer greens.

There had been only six rounds in the 60s over the opening two rounds, but that would change.

Couples' prediction of the lowest winning total since Larry Mize dramatically defeated Greg Norman in a play-off in 1987 was based on the premise that the rains would stay away. This evening's final round, which according to the forecast will be once again be played in near perfect conditions, will determine whether Couples was on the right track, but yesterday, the players were wrestling with a very different golf course.

If a major championship tends to transcend patriotism, there was more hope on the Irish front than in recent years. Darren Clarke, fresh from a break in the Bahamas, has looked more relaxed than anyone could remember. His admission that there were a number of players wanting to win more badly than him might rule him out when the temperature rises literally and metaphorically around Amen Corner, but Padraig Harrington will have a different perspective.

Five over par after seven holes last Thursday, he proceeded to transform his ailing fortunes with some intelligent golf. Peering at the dark skies yesterday, Harrington would probably have felt at home.