Ted Potter Jr. wins Par 3 Contest in five-way tie. Two hole-in-ones in contest, Ben Crenshaw and Nick Watney.
Ted Potter Jr., a Masters rookie, sank a 15-foot birdie putt on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff, beating Phil Mickelson and Matt Kuchar to win the Par 3 Contest after a record-setting five-way tie in regulation.
At No. 8, the first playoff hole, Potter had stayed alive by making a 25-footer for birdie after Kuchar hit his tee shot within 2 feet. Mickelson was eliminated after missing a 30-footer.
One hole later, Kuchar’s 10-foot birdie attempt slid wide to the right as Potter made his winning putt.
It was the 19th playoff in the history of the Par 3 Contest, dating to 1960, and the first one since 2004. There was Mickelson, three-time Masters champion, with his three children in tow as he tempted the fates: famously, nobody has won the Par 3 Contest and the Masters in the same year.
When Kuchar sank a birdie putt on the final hole of regulation, he became the fifth player to tie for the lead. The previous high was four, which had occurred on three other occasions. He joined not only Potter and Mickelson at the top of the leader board but also Ernie Els and Nick Watney, who were unavailable for the playoff.
Before the late-afternoon drama, there was, as always, no shortage of postcard scenes from the family reunion otherwise known as the annual Par 3 Contest, on the eve of the 77th Masters. Once again, this beloved event linked generations and transcended the game.
Kids and grandkids, girlfriends and at least one fiancée, and most all other branches of the family tree toted Sunday bags, hit shots and stroked putts here and there. Both contributed to and soaked in the atmosphere at Augusta National’s intimate short course.
There was Tom Watson, Masters flag in hand, approaching Arnold Palmer for an autograph. There was Gary Player, paired with Arnie and Jack Nicklaus, chipping in for a birdie and raising both arms in triumph as though the clock had been turned back to their legendary battles as the Big Three.
There was Lee Westwood, who had his mother, Trish, as caddie, and asked her to finish the round and putt for him on No. 9. “Dad’s done it and the children have done it, so it was Mom’s turn,” Westwood said.
There was Rory McIlroy and his caddie, who already was known to most patrons -- Caroline Wozniacki, the No. 10-ranked women’s tennis player in the world and his girlfriend.
“I really wanted her to come and see the Masters and what it’s all about,” McIlroy said.
Wozniacki got as many autograph requests as her boyfriend, and the two often were asked to pose together for photos. She even pulled out a camera and took a picture of Rory sinking a putt. He snapped photos of her, too.
“I just had a real good deal with Rory—I get a really good paycheck out of this,” Wozniacki teased.
“In so many ways it’s similar in its traditions to Wimbledon, and yet in many ways it’s different.”
Mickelson came close to being the 12th Masters champion to win the Par 3 Contest. Sam Snead won the first, in 1960, and did it again in 1974 (20 years after donning his third and final Green Jacket).
Watney made a hole-in-one on the 135–yard No. 9, the 76th ace in the event’s history, and one that lifted him into a tie for the lead. Later, Ben Crenshaw added a 77th by acing the 115-yard No. 7 and high-fiving as many patrons as he could along the ropes.
Before teeing off, two-time major champion Keegan Bradley said, “I’d love to win the Par 3 and win the Tournament and break the curse.” He went on to take an early lead at 2-under par, which was where he would finish, before Mickelson, Els, Watney, Potter and finally Kuchar made their moves.
And added to the illustrious history of the Par 3 Contest.
