Tom Watson Rolls Back The Years To Win US Masters Par-3 Contest

There was a surprise winner of the curtain raiser this year

Tom Watson Rolls Back The Years To Win US Masters Par-3 Contest
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Tom Watson showed the younger guys how to do it as he claimed a victory in the par-3 tournament, one that saw three holes in one

Tom Watson Rolls Back The Years To Win US Masters Par-3 Contest

Tom Watson at the age of 68 saw off the other invitees at the US Masters Par-3 Contest and take an unexpected victory to become the oldest winner of the event.

Watson had six birdies in his round of 21 as he played the short course adjacent to the main Augusta National course in six-under-par he was joined by Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player in his group.

Englishman Tommy Fleetwood was leading for a long time at five-under-par, and may have been nervous as no player has won the Par -3 Contest and US Masters in the same year.


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But it was down to Watson who won the US Masters in 1977 and 1981 to take the victory and his second Par-3 contest, he also won back in 1982. Watson now joins Sandy Lyle and Sam Snead with two par-3 Contest victories.

As with every par-3 contest there was some superb moments of drama and a couple of holes in one.

The most dramatic was Tony Finau, who having aced the 6th hole on the course ran off to celebrate and fell and looked to have badly injured his ankle, but it looked like it was simply his shoe that gave way.

Dylan Frittelli had the first hole in one of the day on the 8th – the South African is making his first appearance at Augusta National and is sure to remember Wednesday evening with great fondness in the future.

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However the biggest cheer of the day was heard around the final hole and involved the Watson, Nicklaus and Player group. As is the tradition some of the guest caddies hit shots of the tricky final hole a green some 100 yards away on the far side of a lake, and Jack Nicklaus’ grandson Gary stepped up and holed his tee shot to massive roars from the patrons.

The Par-3 Contest is the traditional curtain raiser to the US Masters and the real action gets underway at 8am (1pm BST) on Thursday morning.

This contest more than any other over the last few years has really set up the week ahead and for one of the most anticipated Masters in history.

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Thomas Patrick Clarke
Sports Digital Editor

Tom Clarke joined Golf Monthly as a sub editor in 2009 being promoted to content editor in 2012 and then senior content editor in 2014, before becoming Sports Digital Editor for the Sport Vertical within Future in 2022. Tom currently looks after all the digital products that Golf Monthly produce including Strategy and Content Planning for the website and social media - Tom also assists the Cycling, Football, Rugby and Marine titles at Future. Tom plays off 16 and lists Augusta National (name drop), Old Head and Le Touessrok as the favourite courses he has played. Tom is an avid viewer of all golf content with a particularly in depth knowledge of the pro tour.