By Phil Casey, PA Sport, Augusta

Thunder and lightning on Monday greeted the early arrivals for this week's US Masters at Augusta.

A weather warning was issued shortly before 8am local time and spectators streaming in through the gates were ordered to take cover as a violent storm broke overhead.

Torrential rain continued to fall and put paid to any hopes of some early practice ahead of the first major of the year which gets underway on Thursday.

Tiger Woods will be seeking an historic third straight Masters title and fourth green jacket as he continues his comeback from knee surgery late last year.

The world number one is a 7-4 favourite to claim an unprecedented treble, something only two players have had the chance to achieve before.

Jack Nicklaus failed to make the cut in 1967 after winning the previous two years, and Nick Faldo finished joint 12th in 1991, five shots behind winner Ian Woosnam, after winning back-to-back play-offs in 1989-90.

"It's something that I know has never been done before and I'm certainly looking forward to it," Woods said earlier this year. "It's going to be one heck of a challenge but hopefully one that I'll be prepared for."

Woods' preparation included missing last week's BellSouth Classic in nearby Atlanta, but there are no doubts about his recovery from surgery.

He won three of his first four events this season, including the World Matchplay and an 11-shot victory in the Bay Hill Invitational despite battling food poisoning.

That was his fourth straight victory in the event, putting him alongside Walter Hagen and Gene Sarazen as the only players to win the same event four times in a row.

Leading the challenge to Woods will be world number two Ernie Els, himself recovering from injury after hurting his wrist hitting a punchbag.

Els made a similarly flying start to the year, winning the first two events on the US Tour and the Heineken Classic in Australia, setting scoring records on both the US and European tours in the process.

Denmark's Thomas Bjorn will not be among the field however, the Dane pulling out today for family medical reasons.

Colin Montgomerie and Paul Lawrie are scheduled to play a practice round at 9am on Tuesday, weather permitting, Lawrie taking Montgomerie's place in the BellSouth Classic when the Scot pulled out and delighted to secure a top 10 finish with a closing 68.

European number one Retief Goosen finished third in the defence of his title with a closing 65 and is in good shape as he attempts to go one better than his second place behind Woods 12 months ago.