Everything you need to know about the Masters Par 3 Contest

The Masters Par 3 Contest first took place in 1960.

What is it? Who’s won it? And why is it considered a curse? Here’s a brief history of the Masters Par 3 Contest…

A traditional precursor to the main event since 1960, the Masters Par 3 Contest was once a genuinely competitive tournament in which invitees fine-tuned their short games ahead of the real thing. it has since become more of a light-hearted family affair, with players showing off their jumpsuit-clad partners and offspring to the soundtrack of oohs and aahs from the patrons.

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The Course

Designed by architect George Cobb and Augusta National co-founder Clifford Roberts and open for play in 1958, the nine-hole, par-27 layout measures 1,090 yards and weaves its way around DeSoto Springs Pond and Ike’s Pond in the north-west corner of the property.

There have been a number of changes to the Par 3 Course over the years. In 1987, the current 8th and 9th holes were added over Ike’s Pond, which replaced the original 1st and 2nd holes.

In 2022, the first five holes were all rerouted to allow more holes to be adjacent to the DeSoto Springs Pond, while the dam and pond were reshaped and restored which increased viewing options and capacity for patrons.

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Course Record

Art Wall Jr (1965) and Gay Brewer (1973) shared the Par 3 Course record of 20 for many years, until Jimmy Walker (2016) carded an 8-under 19.

To date, Walker – who went on to win his sole major title at the PGA Championship later that year – is the only player to break 20 on the Augusta National Par 3 Course.

The highest score to win the Par 3 Contest is 24, and has been achieved by three players: Tsuneyuki Nakajima (1988), Rocco Mediate (1991) and Sandy Lyle (1998).

The most common winning score is 22, which has happened on 27 occasions.

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The Curse

The reason why those players who are genuine contenders to win the Masters allow their family and friends to hit shots for them is because they don’t want to actually win the Par 3 Contest.

Why? Because of the so-called curse – which is actually just the fact that no player has ever won the Par 3 Contest and the Masters Tournament in the same year.

Plenty of players have won both, though, including multiple Masters champions Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Ben Crenshaw.

Vijay Singh is the only player to have won the Par 3 Contest before winning the Masters Tournament, though Crenshaw’s title did fall between his two Green Jackets.

Two players have gone close. Raymond Floyd (1990) and Chip Beck (1993) won the Par 3 Contest before going on to finish 2nd in the Masters Tournament.

Meanwhile, six winners have gone on to record top-five finishes, while 11 have finished in the top 10.

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Holes-in-One

In total, more than 100 holes-in-one have been made during the Masters Par 3 Contest. (You can see the full list here.)

The record number of aces in a single year was nine in 2016, while Gary Player holds the record for the most holes-in-one by a single player with four (1983, 1986, 1993, 2016).

Player’s fourth, at the age of 80, made him the oldest player to sink a hole-in-one in the competition, while 19-year-old amateur Devon Bling (2019) was the youngest.

Tom Watson (1982), Jay Haas (1996), David Toms (2001), Tim Clark (2009), Jimmy Walker (2016), Matt Wallace (2019) and Tom Hoge (2023) all had a hole-in-one on their way to winning.

Statistically, the 1st hole is the hardest to ace, with only four in the tournament’s history.

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Other Records

Largest winning margin: 3 shots – Art Wall Jr (1965); Jimmy Walker (2016)

Most Par 3 Contest wins: 3 – Padraig Harrington (2003, 2004, 2012)

Back-to-back winners: 2 – Sandy Lyle (1997, 1998); Padraig Harrington (2003, 2004)

Amateur winners: 3 – Deane Beman (1961); Labron Harris Jr (1964); Jay Haas (1976)

Youngest champion: 22 – Jay Haas (1976)

Oldest champion: 68 – Tom Watson (2018)

Oldest first-time champion: 51 – Mike Weir (2022)

Oldest competitor: 91 – Paul Runyan (2000)

Oldest to finish under par: 82 – Gary Player (2018)

Debutant winners: 12 – Sam Snead (1960); Terry Dill (1966); Bob Lunn (1969); Steve Melnyk (1972); Jay Haas (1976); Rocco Media (1991); Vijay Singh (1994); Joe Durant (1999); Ben Crane (2006); Ted Potter Jr (2013); Matt Wallace (2019); Mackenzie Hughes (2022)

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Masters Par 3 Contest Honors Board

And the winners are…

The Masters Par 3 Contest title was shared in 2003, 2012 and 2022 due to adverse weather, which was also the reason for the event being cancelled entirely in 2017. It was also postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic.

Masters Par 3 Contest TV Coverage

The 2025 Masters Par 3 Contest will be held on April 9, with coverage beginning at 12.00pm on ESPN and ESPN+.