Tag: Par 3 Contest

Eureka Earth shares ‘majestic’ aerial image of Augusta National’s revamped Par 3 Course

With the Masters less than two months away, Augusta National’s renovated Par 3 Course appears ready to shine.

It’s only 51 days until the Masters, and all the work Augusta National Golf Club has done since Scottie Scheffler donned a green jacket in 2022 is coming even more sharply into focus, thanks to the latest aerial photography by Eureka Earth posted to Twitter.

And it’s not just the main 18-hole course, where the 13th tee box has been moved some 35 yards deeper into the pines on the legendary par 5. Augusta National’s Par 3 course has seen even more dramatic renovations in recent months. The club has not shared details on the changes, but previous reporting and images appear to show a new routing for at least the first several holes of the Par 3 Course.

The Augusta Chronicle reported in July that the club had filed documents with the Georgia city’s Planning and Development Department outlining plans for two new cabins, with cabin being a relative term. One of the cabins was listed in engineering drawings as being a 6,284-square-foot structure, with the other measuring 5,556 square feet. Both border the Par 3 Course.

The Chronicle reported the cabins’ locations would change the Par 3 Course’s first four holes, according to the plans. The new No. 1, instead of playing northward, appears on a city-filed map to point northeast toward the pond, with the new No. 1 green placed on or near the old No. 4 tee. The new No. 2, instead of playing west-to-east, points northwest. The new No. 3, instead of playing southward, faces southeast back toward the pond. The new No. 4 tee, on the opposite side of the No. 3 green, seems to be placed to allow fewer shots to travel over open water to reach the green. The fifth hole would appear relatively unchanged, according to maps.

The Chronicle also reported that other plans filed separately with the city show a new concessions and restroom facility between the main course’s eighth and 18th holes. Aerial images from Eureka Earth have corroborated the Chronicle’s reporting.

As for the rest of the Par 3 Course? When the whole Par 3 Course was basically dug up in June, it wasn’t clear what all the club had in mind. The club has since remained mum on details, as is customary. But come April 5, when the world tunes in to watch the annual Par 3 Contest with families dressed in white caddie bibs as their players try for crystal hardware, the rest of the world will get a first televised look at a very different nine-hole layout.

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Photos show changes to Augusta National’s Par 3 course are complete, along with several new structures

Aerial photos give us a peek of the changes down in Georgia.

On May 31, Eureka Earth posted photos of the Augusta National Par 3 course torn to shreds, more resembling a dirt patch than a golf course.

Just months later, the popular Twitter page has updated the golf world with news pictures of the short course, which look spectacular.

The changes feature a few additions.

According to EE, “two new cabins, an event building, a member restroom, a player pavilion, a merchandise building, and two restrooms, have been completed.”

It’s hard to imagine we’ll get any information directly from Augusta in the coming months, leaving us to wait until the 2023 Masters — scheduled for April 6-9 — for official word.

The Par 3 Contest will be held Wednesday, April 5.

For comparison, here’s the original photo from May.

Earlier this week, Eureka Earth posted photos of the newly renovated 13th tee that has extended the hole some 30 yards.

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Par 3 Contest cut short by weather, brings back iconic Masters Week moments

“Having the Par 3 back this year is a blast. It is so special. I can’t put into words how special it is.”

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Wednesday brought back a sight not seen by players or patrons at Augusta National in three years.

A shortened Par 3 Contest was sandwiched between two weather systems, but what onlookers did get to see brought back images of past Masters Tournaments. It was the first since 2019, back when normal meant normal for many.

The event was originally slated to begin at noon, but the course had to be evacuated at 11:22 a.m. due to poor weather conditions. The gates reopened at 12:45 p.m., and the first group of South Africans Charl Schwartzel, Trevor Immelman and Louis Oosthuizen began play just before 1.

Patrons began filing in shortly after and, by the third or fourth group, it was close to a packed house.

“I think if we wouldn’t have had that little delay and some people left, it was really kind of electric in here,” Weir said. “Still really fun. You can tell starting to build momentum and people are working their way back in. It’s always such a great tradition here to be playing this.”

2022 Masters Par 3 Contest
Kevin Kisner reaches down to catch his son, George, 1, from rolling on no. 4 during the Par 3 Contest at The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

Play was suspended again at 3:42 p.m. and that was it for the day. Mackenzie Hughes and 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir ended in a tie for the lead at 4-under par and were declared co-champs.

It was still enough time for one ace, though. That distinction went to Jason Kokrak with a hole-in-one on No. 4.

While everyone wants a win in any event, the special thing about the Par 3 Contest at Augusta National is that it’s a chance for players to decompress before tournament play begins. It’s also a great way to make memories with their families.

“My youngest, Cohen, he’s 16 months on Monday, so he wanted to get after every ball on the green, heading towards lakes,” Hughes said. “So that was definitely priority No. 1 was to keep them on grass, and did that.”

The putting green adjacent to the first tee tends to become a staging area, not a place for practicing reads. Small children hit balls with shortened putters, took pictures with their fathers, and just had fun at Augusta National.

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Probably the most photogenic of the bunch were Corey and Malory Conners and their 5-month-old daughter, Reis, wearing a matching caddie jumpsuit.

A good number of the field had never experienced the Par 3 Contest before this year, so their first one being cut short wasn’t ideal. The memories made here will last forever, but the anticipation for 2023 is already there.

“Yeah, it’s fun. This is a very special day for me,” Hughes said. “This is my third Masters and my first Par 3 Contest. I was really excited to get out here and do this. Very lucky that the weather held off for us.”

2022 Masters Par 3 Contest
Hudson Swafford pats the head of his son, James, 3, after he teed off on No. 5 during the Par 3 Contest at The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY Network

It’s not just the younger crowd that loves it. Masters veterans like 1987 champion Larry Mize were thrilled to see the contest return this year, too.

“I think as you get older you understand to appreciate even more,” said the Augusta native, who finished at 3 under. “Having the Par 3 back this year is a blast. It is so special. I can’t put into words how special it is.”

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Minjee Lee co-leads at Chevron, plans to caddie for brother Min Woo Lee at Masters Par 3 Contest

This will be Minjee’s first trip to Augusta National.

RANCHO MIRAGE, Cali. – It’s a special fortnight for Australian siblings Minjee Lee and Min Woo Lee. Minjee Lee, last year’s Amundi Evian champion, holds a share of the early lead with Jennifer Kupcho at the Chevron Championship, where the women are taking their final major championship laps around the Dinah Shore Tournament Course. Minjee, 25, opened with a 6-under 66 on a picture-perfect day in the desert.

Next week, Min Woo, 23, will make his debut in the Masters. On Wednesday, Minjee plans to caddie for her younger brother in the Par 3 Contest.

abrdn Scottish Open 2021
Min Woo Lee of Australia celebrates with the trophy after winning the abrdn Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 11, 2021 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Minjee won’t be the first major champion to caddie in the Masters Par 3. In 2018, former No. 1 Ariya Jutanguarn looped for good friend Kiradech Aphibarnrat. In 2016, Lydia Ko caddied for Kevin Na and even hit a tee shot.

“He kind of asked me very casually,” said Minjee, who will also make her first trip to Augusta.

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 06: Lydia Ko, signs an autograph as Kevin Na of the United States looks on during the Par 3 Contest prior to the start of the 2016 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 6, 2016 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Min Woo qualified for the Masters by finishing in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking at year’s end (49th). He has twice won on the DP World Tour, most recently last summer at the Scottish Open.

The Lees became the first siblings to win USGA titles. Minjee won the 2012 U.S. Girls’ Junior while Min Woo won the 2016 U.S. Junior.

Minjee, currently ranked No. 4 in the world, has won six times on the LPGA, including last year’s Evian in a playoff. Her previous best finish at the ANA is a share of third in 2017.

“I know I have one under my belt,” said Minjee of winning majors, “but I do want a little bit more.”

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Masters cancels Par 3 Contest, adds ESPN’s College GameDay

ESPN’s College Game Day will air live from Augusta National on the Saturday of the Masters is among the new coverage being planned.

ESPN’s popular College GameDay is coming to Augusta National Golf Club, while the Par 3 Contest is out. That and more was announced by the club on Tuesday.

The 84th Masters is set to begin on Thursday, November 12 with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player acting as honorary starters. Tee times will be announced at a later date, but players will be scheduled to start off the first and 10th tees in two waves the first two rounds.

Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, announced the Masters, scheduled for November 9-15, will provide an expansive slate of content across multiple platforms, including ESPN’s College GameDay airing live from Augusta National on Saturday, November 14.

“Given the circumstances brought about by the pandemic, the delivery of quality content is as important as ever to the storytelling of the Masters Tournament,” said Ridley. “While we will dearly miss our patrons at Augusta National this fall, we are excited to showcase what promises to be a truly memorable Masters in a variety of ways for viewers around the world.”

One such way is the addition of College GameDay, which is scheduled to take place from 9 a.m. – Noon before the live CBS broadcast of the third round. The studio will be staged overlooking Ike’s Pond and the 9th green of the Par 3 course.

ESPN’s regular GameDay cast will be on site except for Lee Corso, who will check in live from his home in Orlando.

“When exploring ways to showcase a fall Masters, we were drawn to the concept of hosting College GameDay at Augusta National to introduce the Tournament to a new audience and provide even more anticipation and excitement to the event,” Ridley continued. “We appreciate the collaboration with ESPN, our longtime broadcast partner, for this first-of-its-kind opportunity.”

College GameDay has had two golfers on the show before: Rickie Fowler (Oklahoma State) and Justin Thomas (Alabama golfer) were guest pickers in 2015 and 2019, respectively.

Justin Thomas
Justin Thomas appeared on College GameDay as the celebrity picker. (Golfweek photo)

In the United States, live coverage of tournament play will begin Thursday, November 12, from 1 – 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and continue at the same times Friday, November 13. CBS will again provide weekend coverage on Saturday, November 14, from 1 – 5 p.m. ET, before airing the final round from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 15. The Par 3 Contest, which is traditionally played on the Wednesday prior to the Masters Tournament and broadcast by ESPN, has been canceled.

“The fun and excitement of watching Masters competitors with their friends and family is what makes the Par 3 Contest such a special part of Masters week,” stated Ridley. “We know that experience could not have been replicated without guests and patrons at Augusta National, and we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to bring back this signature tradition.”

For the fourth consecutive year, the Masters will air a live 4K broadcast of the Tournament in the United States, featuring action from Amen Corner – the 11th, 12th and 13th holes of Augusta National – as well as the 15th and 16th holes. The site will also feature a new live feed in November, highlighting the action from the 4th, 5th and 6th holes. Featured hole coverage will also be available on ESPN+.

Masters Digital will unveil the “My Group” feature for the 2020 Tournament. Similar to a personally tailored Featured Group, “My Group” allows fans from around the world to build a personalized feed of every shot from their favorite players, ensuring they won’t miss any of the action during the Tournament. The Masters also has launched a free daily email newsletter for fans. Delivered directly to their inbox from Augusta National, this newsletter will provide fans with exclusive content and highlights of the day’s action, while also helping them plan their viewing schedule for the day ahead.

Returning in 2020 is the official Masters podcast “Fore Please! Now Driving…” which invites patrons and fans to follow along as host Marty Smith explores Tournament storylines and visits with notable guests across sport, entertainment and pop culture. Episodes will be published daily from this year’s Masters Tournament.

The ultimate par-3 contest: A hole-by-hole look at the toughest on Tour

Imagine a golf course created from the most difficult par-3 holes on the PGA Tour.

While the Masters has its version of a Par 3 Contest, imagine taking that concept and instead of cutting holes down to size, the course is created from the most difficult par-3 challenges on Tour.

It would be the Ultimate Par 3 Contest.

Based on the 2019 scoring averages, we can create such a course – for the most part – where each hole holds top rank as the toughest to break par on for PGA Tour professionals.

You’d better bring all of your clubs because a few of these might not be reachable with that trusty 3-iron!

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