The Masters par-three contest is played on a Wednesday and has been scored since 1960, when Sam Snead won for the fourth time. Winning it comes with a curse, because no player has taken the par-three contest and the green jacket in the same week.
For the contest’s first 35 years none of its champions had gone on to win The Masters in any year. That sub-curse was broken by Ben Crenshaw in 1995: He’d won the par-three contest in 1987.
South Africans were victorious for three consecutive years with Rory Sabbatini in 2008, Tim Clark in 2009, and Louis Oosthuizen in 2010.
This year the mood was light and families came out to caddy. There were plenty of holes in one, the best of which came from Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler, who made back-to-back aces while playing together.
There are many traditions at Augusta National Golf Club, who famously made Bill Gates wait five years for membership, but the par-three contest is a good one. For the professionals it’s a bring your family to work day, for the spectators it’s a chance to relate to their favourite golfers.
A lovely day for all, except the winner!
