Oosthuizen Wins Masters Par-3 Contest, Assures Himself a Non-First Place Finish This Week

Ok, so Louis Oosthuizen hasn’t officially put away thoughts of winning the green jacket, but given the fact that the won the Masters Par-3 Contest today, he would save himself a lot of trouble if he did. Any thoughts that he had entering Augusta that he would win a major championship have now flown out the window. Why? Because no player that has ever won the contest has ever gone on to win the golf tournament in the same year.

Heading into the championship, Oosthuizen isn’t considered a favorite, and wasn’t even guaranteed to play at Augusta until winning a European event a few weeks ago. But on the positive side, he pretty much has nothing to lose now. If he loses, well, the jinx continues. But if he were to somehow win, then he would give hope to all future Par-3 Contest in their dreams of winning both in the same year.

I mean, it’s just a coincidence. But it certainly gets everyone thinking, including Oosthuizen, I’m sure.

In the grand scheme of things, this Par-3 Contest doesn’t really mean a whole lot (except for the jinx), but it gives the fans a chance to really sit down an enjoy a day of golf before the real thing gets underway tomorrow. It’s great to see the players with their kids on the course, and the event always gives us lots of smiles and laughter, which tends to make golf so much more enjoyable, as opposed to the uptight and tension-filled nature that it is once the actual tournament begins.

Other highlights of the day included a hole in one by Jim Furyk and an absolutely outstanding long putt by Arnold Palmer. All in all, it was another enjoyable contest, and was a lot of fun to watch.

We’ll see if Oosthuizen can put the contest jinx to rest once and for all on Sunday.

Tags: Arnold Palmer, Augusta, golf, Jim Furyk, louis oosthuizen, Masters par 3 contest, par 3 jinx, PGA