Watson becomes oldest winner of Masters’ Par-3 Contest

Tom Watson shot a 6-under-par 21 on Wednesday to win the Par-3 Contest at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., in the process becoming, at 68 years of age, the oldest player to ever win the event.

But Watson’s victory might not have even been the highlight of his playing group, which included fellow World Golf Hall of Famers Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player of South Africa.

Nicklaus’ grandson, GT, recorded a hole-in-one — the third of this year’s event and 97th in the history of the 58-year history of the Par-3 Contest — to steal a bit of Watson’s thunder. GT Nicklaus teed up a ball on the ninth hole, after the legendary threesome had already played their shots, and found the bottom of the cup.

Twenty-two players actually competed in the event, with England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Thomas Pieters of Belgium finishing a stroke back at 22, with Nicklaus, Adam Hadwin of Canada and Chez Reavie another shot in arrears at 23.

The Par-3 Contest is one of the highlights of the week at Augusta National Golf Club, a chance for the players to enjoy the sumptuous surroundings and to have a little fun before the competition begins in earnest on Thursday.

The players usually use friends or family members as caddies, and many times choose their children. The Par-3 Tournament was first held in 1960, when it was won by Sam Snead (who would win again in 1974, just a month shy of his 62nd birthday).

It’s a real contest, played on the course’s short, nine-hole layout nestled in the northeast corner of the grounds. The holes, ranging from 70 to 140 yards, are played over DeSoto Springs Pond and Ike’s Pond, and the competitors consist of this year’s tournament participants and noncompeting past champions.

Tony Finau, and South African Dylan Frittelli also made holes-in-one on Wednesday.

Famously, no winner of the Par-3 Contest has ever gone on to triumph in the Masters the same year. That record will remain intact, as Watson is not in the playing field this week.

–Field Level Media