Four hole-in-ones and a host of heartwarming family moments highlighted the annual Masters Par 3 contest, won by Aaron Rai.
The Englishman carded a six-under par round of 21 on the nine-hole short course but taking out top spot may be more of a curse than a blessing as no golfer has ever won a green jacket after conquering the lighthearted Wednesday competition since it began in 1960.
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The Par 3 contest is all about the highlights, not the leaderboard, however.
Justin Thomas, Wyndham Clark, Keegan Bradley and Tommy Fleetwood all delivered on that front with aces.
Last year’s US Ryder Cup captain Bradley became the first player to make a hole-in-one in back-to-back years on the eighth hole.
The 39-year-old seems to have the favour of the golf gods right now as he also made two aces on the PGA Tour last year.
For Fleetwood, his ace on the fourth was a good attempt to steal some of the spotlight away from his son Frankie.
The eight-year-old went viral a year ago for his television interview where he said he was trying his hardest to reach the green over the water on the ninth after his shot only made it roughly halfway.
“I’m not so confident, but on the range this afternoon I felt good,” he said beforehand.
He had the power to get the distance this time around but unfortunately was a fraction wayward.
Although, he insisted that he will be back next year to keep trying.
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Brian Harman’s daughter, Cooper, also drew the adulation of the crowd as she drained a monster putt.
While the day was not only confined to families.
Bryson DeChambeau had a special guest caddie, comedian and actor Kevin Hart.
Playing partner Haotong Li was stoked upon seeing Hart: “You’re my favourite. Let’s f****** go!”
Scroll down for more of the best moments and photos from the Par 3 Contest!
TEEN RECALLS RORY FAN BOY MOMENT AHEAD OF MASTERS DEBUT
Rory McIlroy tossed a golf ball to a child at the 2016 Players Championship and that kid, US Amateur champion Mason Howell, will play alongside McIlroy to start the 90th Masters.
Defending champion McIlroy, a 36-year-old five-time major winner from Northern Ireland, will join 18-year-old Howell from nearby Thomasville and American Cameron Young off the first tee at 10:31am (12.31am AEST) Thursday.
“The incredible thing about our game is because our careers are long, so many generations overlap,” McIlroy said. “I remember playing the first two rounds of the 2010 US Open with Tom Watson. That’s incredible to think about now.” McIlroy watched Tiger Woods win the 1997 Masters in record fashion and said, “I want to do that.” Now he’s the idol instead of the idoliser.
“Rory was one of my idols growing up, so it’ll be a super special moment for me,” Howell said. “I can’t ogle at his game too much. I got to focus on myself.
“I’ll be super excited but at the same time I’ll be super nervous — just controlling my emotions and sticking to my game plan and just having fun.”
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That Nike golf ball Howell received from McIlroy spent years in Howell’s room, serving as inspiration. Now it will be in his bag when he plays Augusta National alongside McIlroy.
“I’ve got his ball in my bag right now, one that he gave me in 2016,” Howell said. “It says ‘Rors’ on the side.
“I’m going to say I’m going to play the first hole with a Nike, which I’m not… That would be a power move, but yeah, that’s kind of the plan. Hopefully it doesn’t get back to him before Thursday.” Howell was born in 2007, just weeks before McIlroy was low amateur in his major debut at the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie at age 18.
“I just think about the time span,” McIlroy said. “I’ve been lucky that the people I looked up to took me under their wing when I was starting off. That’s the incredible thing about golf that not a lot of other sports have.”
Howell, set to attend the nearby University of Georgia, stayed in the Crow’s Nest, a housing area at the club for amateurs.
“Just being here at the Masters playing in front of this many people, it’s awesome,” Howell said. “It’s kind of a lot to handle. When Thursday comes, I know I’ll be pretty nervous but excited at the same time.
“If I keep a smile on my face, I think the rest will take care of itself.” His goal for the week is making the cut and having four “solid” rounds. “I can’t wait for it to get started, but I know when it does it’ll be gone in the blink of an eye,” he said. “I wish it would honestly slow down. Just trying to soak it all in.”
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‘WE’LL TRY DIFFERENT THINGS’: AUGUSTA TO SHY AWAY FROM TRADITION
Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley says the home of the Masters won’t create fictional scripted dramas anytime soon but would look “outside the box” to grow the sport.
And he wants distance limitation for elite-level golf balls, saying, “It’s time to address this issue” to “protect the integrity of what makes golf so great.” Speaking Wednesday on the eve of the 90th Masters, Ridley noted a 2022 viral collaboration with YouTube’s Dude Perfect but admitted the all-sports video left something to be desired.
The video, made weeks before the Masters, featured Dude Perfect using hockey sticks, baseball bats, tennis racquets, pool cues and frisbees through Amen Corner — the famed 11th, 12th and 13th holes at August National.
“A few years ago we had Dude Perfect playing frisbee at Amen Corner. In retrospect, I like those guys, but that may not have been the best idea,” Ridley said.
“But it does point out that we try things every once in a while that are a little bit non-traditional, so we’ll continue to look at things.
“We’re certainly willing to look outside the box every once in a while.”
Ridley indicated Augusta National hadn’t pondered fictional shows set around the famed grounds in the way the NFL has embraced certain projects.
“It’s not something I think we’ve considered,” he said. “There’s no shortage of examples of things that we’re looking at. I think the last few years have pointed out we’ll try different things.” Ridley noted the tension between respecting tradition and innovation. “I do think we need to be looking at non-traditional ways of promoting the tournament, but more so promoting golf,” he said.
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– ‘Prodigious distances’ –
It’s the same fine line involved in limiting golf ball technology, something Ridley and governing bodies support to reduce distance at the elite level.
“Our position is grounded on much more than protecting the Augusta National golf course,” Ridley said. “We will continue to make modifications as are necessary to react to driving distances that in some cases exceed 350 yards.
“The game has become much more one-dimensional. As players drive the ball prodigious distances and routinely hit short irons into par-fours and even some par-fives, this issue goes beyond competitive impacts.” Ridley said shot shaping, risk taking and executing under pressure is at the heart of elite greatness, not just distance.
“Regulation of the golf ball is not an attempt to turn back time or stifle progress,” he said. “It’s an effort to preserve the essence of what makes golf the great game that it is.” Ridley addressed comments by PGA Tour chief executive officer Brian Rolapp that, while majors like the Masters benefit from the tour, the tour has no ownership stake in the majors.
“There are a number of golf organisations, including ours, that make the journey to the PGA Tour possible,” Ridley said.
“We really need to look at the entire ecosystem to get a full perspective of that issue.”
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– No idea on gnomes –
Ridley said that after adding six national open champions to Masters qualifiers, the club would consider others.
“I do think there might be other national opens that should be considered,” he said.
Asked about reports this might be the last year for the popular collectable “Masters gnome” at the club gift shop, Ridley said even he doesn’t have the answer.
“I’ve been asking that question for several years, and they won’t tell me the answer, so I can’t help you,” Ridley said.
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