By Phil Casey, PA Sport, Augusta

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The opening day of the US Masters was washed out for the first time in 64 years on Thursday - but tournament officials will do whatever it takes to complete 72 holes.

Ernie Els felt that would mean going into Tuesday if necessary, while competition committee chairman Will Nicholson said 72 holes would be played 'some time'.

Almost four inches of rain have fallen on the Augusta National course since Sunday, and Monday's practice day was also washed out completely.

The last time a whole day was lost was in 1983 when the second day's play was wiped out, and a Monday finish was necessary before Seve Ballesteros could claim his second green jacket.

"If there is another downpour then Monday comes into the equation," admitted Els. "They'll do whatever they can to finish 72 holes, even if we have to play on Tuesday."

The first round is scheduled to start from the first and 10th tees at 0730 local time on Friday (1230 BST), with the second round tentatively scheduled to begin at around 1330 (1830 BST).

"I would suspect that if the weather is as good as they say it is, we have an outside chance of completing 36 on Friday," Nicholson added.

"I think it's more probable that we'll have three or four groups on each side of the draw still on the golf course Saturday morning, finish them early Saturday, redraw and start the third round approximately 1030, 11am on Saturday.

"And then we'll be back on schedule. If at all possible we'll finish on Sunday. If we have weather other than what we're told, we will complete 72 holes some time."

Despite the extremely wet conditions, tournament officials will retain their tradition of not allowing the use of 'preferred lies,' where players can lift and clean their ball on the fairway.

"There will be a woman member here before that would happen," said American Chris Di Marco.

"We believe that's the traditional way to play the game and that's the way we intend to play the game," Nicholson added.

Els believes that could have a major effect on shots and shot selection, with mud on the ball significantly affecting the flight and direction of shots.

"I played the 10th one year with mud on the ball and hit a shot at the flag and it went straight left into a bush," added the South African.

"On the 13th and 15th (par fives with water in front of the green), you will have to lay-up from anything over 200 yards. Patience is a big thing.

"Concentration is going to be hard on Friday as the day wears on. These greens are as tough as they come so to keep concentrating on them all day is going to be pretty tough.

"It's going to be about staying in the moment. If you get off to a good or bad start you can work on it all day which helps.

"I think you will take 72 on Friday and then see if the weather improves and go for it on the weekend. You just have to try and hang in there.

"I'll work on my short game now and then have a nice relaxing afternoon with the family. You need some good rest tonight, it's going to be a long day."

American Phil Mickelson felt the delays would have no major effect on the result of the tournament, which sees Tiger Woods going for an unprecedented third straight victory.

"The guys who are playing well will have a greater chance to take advantage of a a full day," the left-hander said. "I don't think playing 36 holes on Friday will make it more difficult than playing 18 on each."

However veteran German Bernhard Langer added: "It will be tough, especially on this course. It is so demanding, there are lots of sidehills and uphills.

"Monday was tough on the fans and this is even worse. Nobody controls the weather and we'll have to go with what we have and hopefully we'll have a good weekend."

It is casual water on the fairways rather than the greens which is causing the problem, the putting surfaces benefiting from a 'sub-air' drainage system.

"The one that immediately comes to mind is on the eighth hole and the outlet to the system is next to the scoreboard," Nicholson added. "You'll see a plume of water, it looks like a sprinkler has broken.

"That's the water that's being sucked out of the green and thrown into the atmosphere. The greens don't have much water. They're soft, but that sub-air system sucks it out very well.

"All of last week this course was never in better condition. The fairways were firm, the greens were firm, the pace was picking up, it was absolutely perfect.

"I thought we had an opportunity to play this course the way the course is designed and unfortunately we still have not seen that yet."