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The Masters: The Par 3 Contest, Adorable Caddies, and History

By Christopher O'Day

AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 04: Tom Watson of the United States celebrates with the trophy after winning the Par 3 Contest prior to the start of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 4, 2018 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 04: Tom Watson of the United States celebrates with the trophy after winning the Par 3 Contest prior to the start of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 4, 2018 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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Every year since 1960, there has been a Par 3 tournament the day before The Masters starts. It’s a fantastic event. Winning it though?  It sure is cool, but it’s never a good thing.

We are coming up on the 60th Masters Par 3 contest, and it’s an incredibly joyous event. Family members are heavily involved, whether it is wives or girlfriends caddying for their husbands, or their kids walking along in tiny white caddie jumpsuits. I mean, how adorable can you get.

AUGUSTA, GA – APRIL 05: The children of Bubba Watson of the United States and Webb Simpson of the United States play during the Par 3 Contest prior to the start of the 2017 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 5, 2017 in Augusta, Georgia. The Par 3 Contest was later cancelled due to inclement weather. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
AUGUSTA, GA – APRIL 05: The children of Bubba Watson of the United States and Webb Simpson of the United States play during the Par 3 Contest prior to the start of the 2017 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 5, 2017 in Augusta, Georgia. The Par 3 Contest was later cancelled due to inclement weather. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

It isn’t just a bunch of lil’ tykes running around looking cute as could be either. Sometimes, we are left with incredibly memorable and touching moments, ones that burn an image into your mind. Not just for the act, but for the weight of emotion behind it. Who can forget watching Jack Nicklaus’s grandson tee up in his Augusta whites, and trickling in a hole-in-one, with the Golden Bear on the ball for all to see.

The event isn’t just fun and games though. For Jack and Gary Jr. a hole-in-one can bring excitement and a lasting memory to be cherished. For others, it can lead to questions of the availability to play in the tournament. Just ask Tony Finau. The footage is a little grainy, and not for the faint of heart. View at your own discretion.

He ended up popping it back in, and put together an incredible tough run that week, actually finishing with a T10 at last years Masters after suffering the injury. gearing up to play the next day is one thing. Making the cut is another. But playing four rounds over four days immediately after dislocating your ankle shows incredible toughness on the part of Finau.

Then there is the stigma associated with winning the tournament. It’s one that all pro’s know about, and secretly leads to none of the favorites actually wanting to win the par 3 event at The Masters. Since 1960, not a single person who has won the Par 3 has won The Masters that year. In fact, Ben Crenshaw and Vijay Singh are the only players to win a Masters after winning the Par-3 contest.

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Vijay won the Par 3 in 1994, and then took home the Green Jacket in 2000. For Crenshaw, he actually won before and after. He took home his first Masters win in 1984, won the Par 3 in 1987, and then got his second Green Jacket in 1995.

There have only been two instances where someone has even gotten close to accomplishing the feat. Raymond Floyd won in 1990, and then lost in a sudden-death playoff to Nick Faldo. Tom Watson won the 1981 Masters, and then won the Par 3 event in 1982, leaving him as the only person to have both titles at once, even if it was for a few days.

Tom Watson has another interesting accomplishment under his belt as well when it comes to the Par 3 event at The Masters. Seven players have won the event multiple times, with four of those having won a Masters as well. In Fact, Watson and Sam Snead are the only ones to win multiple Par 3 events and Multiple Green Jackets.

That’t not it though. Watson also holds the designation of biggest stretch between wins at the Par 3 contest. His first win came in 1982, with his second one actually coming last year in 2018, a staggering 36 years in-between his wins. No surprise that won of the all time short game greats can win multiple Par 3 contests.

Next. The Masters: Top 10 power rankings at Augusta National. dark

If you happen to have a bet or a DFS lineup for this week, be a little wary if your pick ends up winning the Par 3. It hasn’t happened yet, so it could end poorly for your choice. Regardless, the Par 3 event should be enjoyed. Watch a whole bunch of aces, some adorable kids, and some of the games greats out enjoying this incredible event that precedes The Masters.

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