Augusta, Ga. ? Call it Martha Burk’s revenge … and remember that it’s “Mother” Nature.

An already strange Masters got even stranger Thursday. Weeklong rains made Augusta National unplayable, forcing officials to postpone the first round.

That means there will be a doubleheader today. The plan is to get in 36 holes starting shortly after 6 a.m.. But with the course still extremely soggy, the field is probably looking at 27 holes today, followed by another 27 Saturday.

It seemed fitting that something would go wrong during what has been an extremely atypical week at Augusta National.

“Has it been a weird week?” Rocco Mediate asked. “It has been a weird 10 months.”

Officials were hoping the start of play would defuse controversy over Augusta National’s males-only membership policy. They also hoped pushing tee times back to late morning would allow them an opportunity to get the first round in.

But with more rain in the forecast and the normally pristine layout already looking like Buckingham Fountain after taking on nearly four inches of rain since Monday, a late-morning call was made to wait another day. The opening round was postponed for the first time since 1939.

“I’ve never seen weather like this in a major,” Ernie Els.

That’s saying something — Els survived “Perfect Storm” conditions during the third round in winning the British Open at Muirfield last year. But that storm lasted only a few hours. The current rainy weather system seems to be embedded over Augusta.

A mud-splattered sign and a grey sky greet Masters patrons as they await the start of the 2003 Masters. The tournament's start Thursday at Augusta, Ga., was postponed a day.

Will Nicholson, head of the competition committee, said it would have been unfair to send players out on the course. He noted that there was so much casual water on the third hole, he had a difficult time finding places for relief.

The rain is supposed to let up today, with an ideal forecast (sunny and 70s) for the weekend. And though the course may be waterlogged, one thing is certain: The Masters won’t be played under lift, clean and place conditions, as it probably would be if it were a PGA Tour event.

“There would be a woman member here before that happens,” Chris DiMarco said.

Sure enough, Nicholson said the tournament would be pushed to Monday before officials would allow players to clean their golf balls on the fairway.

“We believe in the traditional way to play the game,” Nicholson said.

Today hardly will be a typical day for the players. Playing 18 holes at Augusta is hard enough. Walking in the mud for 36 holes (if they get completed) will be a much harder test.

“It’ll be 15,000 wet yards,” Mediate said. “Fitness will be a good thing.”

Indeed, the conditions further enhance Tiger Woods’ chances. He will have an additional edge because at 26 he is among the fittest players on tour.

Also, the 7,290-yard course really will play in the 8,000-yard range because even the most well-struck shots are more likely to sink than roll. That stacks the deck further for long hitters like Woods.

For most players, “the 8- and 9-irons don’t have to be in the bag unless you’re using them for chipping,” Mediate said. “The long guys definitely have an advantage.”

All the players face the challenge of making mental adjustments. They were geared up to play Thursday. Now they have to rev up the mind-set again for today.

“It wears on you mentally,” Western Open champion Jerry Kelly said. “You’re antsy and ready to play, and then you can’t.”

Scott Hoch said the key is to avoid the mind games. His plan is to accept what comes and just play.

“My focus is still the same regardless,” Hoch said. “Just tell me what I’m supposed to do. It’s not a matter of pacing yourself for 36 holes. You have to concentrate on every shot.”

The best place to see the players Thursday was in a movie theater. Many of them said they intended to take in a flick.

Kelly had a different plan.

“I’m going to eat myself into a coma and then go lay down,” he said.

It was that kind of day at Augusta.