Tom Hoge overtook LIV Golf’s Bubba Watson with an ace-birdie end to win Wednesday’s Masters Par-3 Contest, risking an Augusta National curse on the eve of the 87th Masters.
PICTURE | Masters: Leading South African enjoys conventional dinner
No Par-3 Contest winner has captured the inexperienced jacket in the identical 12 months, thus constructing the custom of a Masters hoodoo.
Two-time Masters champion Watson, who aced the 70-yard fourth gap, led the Contest on 5-under and for some time it appeared the Saudi-backed upstart LIV Golf League may seize an Augusta National triumph of types earlier than the Masters even started.
ALSO READ: Tiger Woods’ ex-girlfriend sues over ugly break-up
But Hoge, a 33-year-old American who received his solely PGA title final 12 months at Pebble Beach, had no drawback going for the victory on the particular 1,055-yard nine-hole format.
At the 120-yard eighth gap, Hoge noticed his ball backspin into the outlet to match Watson for the lead.
“Was cool to see that go in,” Hoge mentioned.
LATEST ODDS | HOLLYWOODBETS ODDS FOR THE 2023 MASTERS
At the 135-yard ninth, Hoge curled in a protracted birdie putt to grab the lead, Watson settling for a share of second with US compatriot Kurt Kitayama.
“Just a fun day out here with my wife caddying for me,” Hoge mentioned.
“Good start to the week, so try to keep that going.”
ALSO READ: South Africa-born golfer pulls out of Masters to deal with psychological well being
World quantity 26 Hoge, who resides in often-snowy North Dakota, was thirty ninth final 12 months in his Masters debut.
Five hole-in-one’s at Masters Par-3 Contest
There have been five aces in all within the Par-3 Contest, a relaxed occasion with children and fogeys as caddies earlier than the extraordinary Masters highlight shines.
World primary Scottie Scheffler, the defending Masters champion, aced the ninth gap – a great omen as he tries to match Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo as the one back-to-back inexperienced jacket winners.
“The slam dunk at the end was definitely very fun,” Scheffler mentioned.
ALSO READ | Masters 2023: What time does Tiger Woods tee off in Round 1?
Tom Watson in 1982 and Canada’s Mike Weir in 2004 have been the one different defending champions to make a hole-in-one within the Par-3 Contest.
Ireland’s Seamus Power had the opposite two aces at the eighth and ninth holes, changing into solely the third participant with back-to-back aces within the Contest after American Claude Harmon in 1968 and Japan’s Toshi Izawa in 2002.
“It’s a dream come true,” Power mentioned.
“To get one was particular however to get the second was a bit surreal. It was an absolute blast on the market.
“I don’t know whether it carries into tomorrow, but it’s certainly a lifelong memory that I’ll treasure for a long time.”
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
