Par‑3 Contest turned into a show
Wednesday’s Par‑3 Contest was unusually lively — players made four holes‑in‑one, which injected a celebratory, loose mood into Masters week. (youtube.com) It won’t predict the champion, but multiple aces signal a comfortable, confident vibe among the field heading into the serious rounds. (youtube.com)
Four golfers sank holes-in-one during Wednesday's Par-3 Contest at Augusta National, the most ever in the event's history. (pgatour.com) The Par-3 Contest is a 9-hole exhibition played on a short course next to the main Masters track, created by cliffside architect Clifford Roberts in 1960. (masters.com) Players often bring family as caddies, turning it into a relaxed party before Thursday's serious tournament starts. (masters.com) Holes range from 65 to 121 yards, so pros swing lighter clubs like wedges or 9-irons, aiming for tiny greens surrounded by water and bunkers. (pgatour.com) A hole-in-one means the ball drops straight into the cup on the fly, like skipping a stone perfectly into a pond from 100 feet. (masters.com) Jim Furyk aced the 80-yard 4th hole with a gap wedge; Sam Burns hit one on the 140-yard 8th; Matt Fitzpatrick drained the 121-yard 6th; and amateur Sean O'Laijuwon got the 4th too. (pgatour.com) Past records topped out at two aces in a single contest, like in 2016 with Jimmy Walker and others. (golfdigest.com) No Par-3 winner has ever won the Masters green jacket the next day—64 have tried since 1960. (masters.com) Still, four aces created a buzzing, confident atmosphere among the 94-player field as the real tournament begins today. (pgatour.com)
