5 of the best moments from the Masters Par-3 Contest

Matt Wallace beat Sandy Lyle in playoff to win the Masters Par 3 on his first trip to Augusta National, but his victory was just part of the story. Here’s five of the best moments…

The Masters Par 3 contest is all about players, past champions and invitees getting to enjoy themselves with friends, family and often celebrities on the eve of the tournament, and today was no different. 

From Justin Thomas’ kind gesture to a small fan, Kiradech Aphibarnrat bringing out some of the best female golfers in the world, Tony Finau’s hilarious ankle joke and Angela Garcia sticking it close, here are five of the best moments from this year’s Par 3. 

Justin Thomas brings young fan out of the crowd to play a shot 

Justin Thomas had his girlfriend Jill as his caddie for the Par-3 contest, and she got her shot to hole a putt – but not before JT pulled out a young kid from the crowd to let him have a go.

The young boy lipped out, but the gesture was just one of the many things that makes the Masters Par 3 so great. 

Taking no chances: Finau’s ankle joke was perfect

On the first of April Tony Finau partnered up with Nike to put out a hilarious video about a new shoe that was constructed to make sure he wouldn’t dislocate his ankle again this year. 

But when he got to the scene of last year’s crime (the seventh), he took the joke one step further, producing, and then wearing, the constructed ankle boot/shoe to play his tee shot. 

He also was wearing a shirt that had a small, stitched replica of the boot. Honestly, the whole thing was brilliant. 

Fellow Thai professional golfers Ariya (World No. 3) and Moriya Jutanugarn (World No. 22) were on the bag of Kiradech Aphibarnrat

You’d be forgiven if you did a double take earlier, as I did, when you saw Kiradech Aphibarnrat had professional golfers and sisters Ariya and Moriya Jutnaugarn alongside him as his caddies for the Par 3.

Not only were they on the bag for him, but all three players hit off the ninth tee at the same time – and both Jutanugarn sisters made birdie.

If you’re wondering which ball was the closest, that would be two time major champion and former World No.1 Ariya. 

The Garcia’s: Angela’s still got serious game

Sergio Garcia’s wife Angela used to be a reporter for the Golf Channel and played golf in college, and showed off her skills on the ninth hole on Wednesday as she stuck her approach shot to just a few feet. 

Also watching the moment was Angela and Sergio’s 1 year-old daughter Azalea, who was named after the 13th hole at Augusta, and was one of the adorable kids around in their caddie whites on Wednesday. 

Four holes in one

Matt Wallace was one of the last players to come through, but he made the crowds roar as he holed out on the eighth for the fourth and final hole in one of the day – and then went on to throw his ball in to the crowd. 

Here, we recap the day’s four aces.