Poppy McIlroy steals Rory’s limelight… and more magic moments from Wednesday

Wednesday at Augusta always creates headlines, from Masters chairman Fred Ridley’s annual address, to the Par 3 Contest. Join me for a quick dive into the best moments.

The talking’s over and the race for the Green Jacket is about to begin, but Wednesday at The Masters created plenty of headlines as Chairman Fred Ridley faced the media for his traditional pre-tournament address, stars of today and yesteryear contested the traditional tournament prelude on Augusta’s short course, Poppy McIlroy showed Dad how it’s done… oh, and an Aussie stole the fashion headlines (and, for once, it wasn’t Jason Day). Let’s dive in.

Trying it on for size

I can’t work out if Cameron Smith is so confident that he’ll be wearing a Green Jacket on Sunday that he just wanted to show off how it would fit or if he just wanted to be able tell friends he’d slipped on a tailored jacket at Augusta. Either way, the Aussie’s practice round look, complete with Ripper GC and LIV Golf logos, went viral and he’ll probably have a little bonus from makers Greyson to ease the pain when he doesn’t slip on the marginally more famous one come Sunday.

Day’s shoes shine

Jason Day seems determined to be asked to remove more clothing at this year’s Masters. Having been forced to take off his sweater vest in 2024, the Aussie then had his scripted outfits rejected by Augusta. So today he rocked up in shoes that looked like that been made from one of the many trophies he’s won.

Unfortunately for Jason, Cam hadn’t let him know that he was going to be taking the fashion headlines for their nation today.

Echavarria will have to beat the ‘curse’

Nicolas Echavarria prevailed from a two-hole playoff with JJ Spaun to lift the Par-3 Contest trophy and all but guarantee he won’t win be slipping on the Green Jacket come Sunday. The Colombian had finished on 5-under through nine holes and will now have to overcome the curse that means no player has ever won the prelude and the main event in the same week if he is to become the first rookie to slip on the Green Jacket since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

More water woes for Spaun

JJ Spaun will be glad to see the back of par 3s protected by vast expanses of water. Having lost a playoff to Rory McIlroy at The Players after dunking his ball in water at the par-3 17th, he dunked his ball in the water on the 9th to hand the title to Echavarria. At least there are no holes like that on the main course…

The McIlroy genes are strong

Poppy McIlroy created the moment of the Par-3 Contest (sorry, Nicolas, but she’s a kid). Having seen Iris Lowry hole a ten-footer for birdie on the final hole, to the delight of the crowd, the four-year-old had her ‘hold my beer juice’ moment as she casually rolled in a downhill 20-footer that her Dad would have been proud of. Oh, and she did it one handed.

We’re not sure if it was the roars from the crowd or the sight of an exuberant Shane Lowry celebrating in her face, but Poppy burst in to tears and had to be scooped up by her Dad. “Shall we get you an ice cream… and then watch your highlights?” a relaxed Rory smiled as they left the course. Wholesome stuff. Let’s hope we see more magical McIlroy moments this week… and that was the last of the tears.

Bryson doing Bryson things…

Bryson DeChambeau said on Tuesday that making an ace over his house gave him 90% the excitement of winning a major. There was no ace for the king of content in the Par 3, but he created another video that will go viral, leaving his putter in the bag and opting instead to do this…

Just keep being you, Bryson.

An ace afternoon

Keegan Bradley continued his ace year with the first hole-in-one of the Par-3 Contest. Captain Keegs, who had already recorded aces at both the Genesis Invitational and Players Championship this year, marked his hole out at the 6th by lifting his kids in the air. He’ll be hoping that’s not the only thing he lifts in celebration this year.

“It was up there with my favorite moments of my golf career, maybe even my life,” Bradley revealed. “It was really fun to be there with my family. It was special. I’ll never forget that ever.”

Before long, Tom Hoge drew further roars with an ace of his own, his tee shot dropping in at the 4th, before Brooks Koepka rounded out the hole-in-one action, following Bradley in at the 6th for the 115th ace since the Par 3 Contest started in 1960.

All three receive a crystal vase to mark their moment.

• Here’s a brief history of holes-in-one at the Masters Par 3 Contest

Ridley’s lengthy to-do list

Chairman Fred Ridley’s annual Wednesday media address was as wide-ranging as ever, starting with a tribute to those who stepped up to ensure Augusta – both the city and golf club – recovered in the wake of Hurricane Helene. His opening statement also paid tribute to members of the media who are no longer with us, and Lee Elder on the 50th anniversary of him becoming the first black man to play in the Masters.

ANGC’s big boss went on to reveal a new state-of-the-art players’ lounge (“like nothing else in sports”) will be ready for 2026, admitted slow play is top of his list of concerns, reiterated his stance on the golf ball rollback, urged the game to reunite, dealt a blow to LIV golfers hopes of qualifying for the year’s first major, and, in the wake of criticism from campaigners and media, explained why the committee had allowed Angel Cabrera to take his place in the field.