Tom Hoge wins par 3 contest ahead of Augusta Masters

In Augusta, there is the mythical course, the famous 18 holes where the Masters is played every year. And then there is the compact, this set of 9 holes, 9 par 3, beautifully designed, beautifully maintained with these pretty ponds, these azaleas, this well-mowed lawn where you want to lie down for a little nap , or watch the show. Tradition has it that, every Wednesday before the official competition, the players meet there to compete in a fun way.

Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa, Rory McIlroy were there, among others, as was Gary Player, the 87-year-old South African, three-time Masters winner (1961, 1974 and 1978), and first non-American to win this Augusta tournament. Most of the time, they are accompanied by their loved ones, their parents, or their wives, and children, all this pretty little world dressed like Augusta’s caddies, with this recognizable white tunic. On hole number 9, these relatives have the right to try their luck, with a stroke of 120 meters to achieve to cross the water obstacle, and get dry on a green with twisted slopes.

Scheffler and Watson also in the spotlight

This Wednesday, it was the American Tom Hoge who won with a hole in one, a score of 21 (six strokes under par), a very low score, the first since 2010. This is not a very good news for him because, never in the history of this Wednesday competition, which has existed since 1960, has a winner managed to put on the green jacket. Hoge knows the story and will try to break the cycle.

The American wasn’t the only one to shoot a hole in one. Scottie Scheffler, the title holder of the Masters, made one on hole number 9. This is also the case of Bubba Watson, the American left-hander. One hole in one is good, two is even stronger. Seamus Power managed the feat of making two, in a row, on hole number 8 and on hole number 9.