Anyway, not only did Hoge keep the curse going this year by not slipping on the green jacket, but after winning the contest with a score of six-under that included an ace at Augusta National’s short course, things got worse. Much, much worse.

First, Hoge missed the cut. By one shot. Thanks to a bogey on his final hole of the second round. And then, after flying home, he discovered this:

Well that’s a new one @AmericanAir. Thought we just had the standard broken driver today. pic.twitter.com/R6imQsPYlU

— Tom Hoge (@HogeGolf) April 9, 2023

Ouch. Still don’t believe in the curse?

Of course, a broken golf club (or two, if his driver was really also a flight casualty) is much more likely when you travel like an average Joe like Hoge does. The guy shared that he was flying in the back of the plane (Seat 21C!) last month after earning $1.475 million for finishing T-3 at the Players Championship. (Hopefully, that crystal bowl Hoge got for winning the Par 3 got back in one piece.)

Regardless, it was yet another reminder to not mess with the golf gods. Hoge doesn’t have any kids, so if he’s invited back to Augusta National in 2024, he might just have to come down with a stomach bug on that Wednesday afternoon next year.

The post Tom Hoge’s photo proves yet again that the Masters ‘Par 3 Curse’ is real — and possibly getting worse appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Masters Par-3 Contest has a rhythm all its own, which is what Augusta National co-founder Clifford Roberts envisioned when he helped first organise it in 1960. The hope was that it could become a “distinctive pre-tournament event” where, if only for a few hours, any talk surrounding the main attraction that begins the following morning would be muted. Call it an opportunity to get in some last-minute calisthenics not so much for the body as the mind.

In recent years, the event has become a celebration of family and fun, players gleefully bringing out friends, wives, dads and youngsters to “caddie.” So if you’re fond of kids and cuteness, you’re in the right place.

Starting with: All eyes are on Cameron Young.

Scottie Scheffler’s wife, Meredith, gets into the action.

She’s also part of the celebration after Scottie made a hole-in-one on the ninth.

While Jordan Spieth was trying to avoid playing in the sand, his son Sammy couldn’t get enough of it.

But Sammy also was willing to help dad fill a divot hole on the seventh tee.

Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky walk hand-in-hand from tee-to-green.

Max Homa’s wife, Lacey, tried to make sure baby Cam kept cool in the Georgia sun.

Two-time Masters champ Bubba Watson got the patrons excited when he made a hole-in-one.

Bubba Watson and Jason Day had some close admirers on hand.

Seamus Power also will be getting some crystal from Augusta National after making not one, but two, holes-in-one on Wednesday.

Augusta National member Condoleezza Rice was all smiles as she watched along.

Jon Rahm gives son Keppa a lift, while Louis Oosthuizen’s daughter, Sophia, is made in the shades

Billy Horschel’s son, Axel, enjoyed getting a chance to interact with the gallery.

But the cutest pic of the day award — Rory and family.

The post Family, fun and holes-in-one: The best photos from the Masters Par-3 Contest — including the cutest pic you will see today appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Hoge made a hole-in-one at the eighth to win the annual Par-3 Contest Wednesday at Augusta National, going through the recently redesigned course in six-under par. LIV golfer and two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, and Arnold Palmer Invitational winner, Kurt Kitayama, were second at five-under.

“[I will still] go out and try and play well,” Hoge said of the tournament proper. “We have some crazy weather here forecast [this week], so not really sure what to expect in that regard, but I guess good start here to the week today, so try to keep that going.”

Added up, there were five aces for the day. Watson had a hole-in-one on No. 4, while Ireland’s Seamus Power carded back-to-back aces at No. 8 and No. 9. Defending Masters champion Scottie Scheffler also had a hole-in-one at No. 9. His was a slam dunk. “I was trying to make [an ace] all day,’’ Scheffler said. “The slam dunk at the end was definitely very fun.’’

Added Power, who became the first player in the Par 3 Contest’s history to record two aces: “Obviously to get one was special, but to get the second one was a bit surreal. It’s obviously such a special tradition here on a Wednesday. I don’t know whether it carries into (Thursday’s opening round), but it’s certainly a lifelong memory that I’ll treasure.’’

Scheffler was glad to be doing anything but delivering the speech he’d rehearsed for the Champions Dinner he hosted Tuesday night. He was fresh off hosting the Champions Dinner, addressing the past champions.

“It was pretty emotional,’’ Scheffler said. “I got through my speech, though, which I was proud of. I trembled probably the whole time, but I got through it.’’

The post Masters 2023: Tom Hoge dismisses the curse of the Par 3 Contest winner, is confident heading into the first round appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Coleman Bentley
Welp, school’s out at Augusta National. The course is closed, the “gone fishin’” sign is up, and, like every summer at ANGC, changes are afoot. Sometimes it’s mild tweaks. Sometimes it’s moderate adjustments. Other times, like 2021, it’s a significant overhaul. Never before have we seen carnage like this, however. If you’re faint of heart or weak of stomach, there’s no shame in looking away.

? Drastic Changes ?

BREAKING- The Augusta National Par-3 Course is undergoing drastic changes!

While the two 1987 Fazio-designed holes may escape, the original holes designed by George Cobb in 1958 appear to be a thing of the past.

(? ©31MAY2022 David Dobbins/#EurekaEarth) pic.twitter.com/SRydGJcx7j

— Eureka Earth® (@EurekaEarthPlus) May 31, 2022

According to Eureka Earth, who were one of the first to reveal the big changes to holes 11 and 15 this spring, the George Cobb-designed holes have been completely erased, with the pair of Tom Fazio beauties hanging in the balance. What’s the end game? What justification could there be for this senseless act of golf-course violence? All of that is TBD, but as is always the case at Augusta National, we’ll have to wait until April for the answers.

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The post Changing course: Augusta National’s Par 3 Course has been wiped off the face of the Earth appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall
The Masters is returning to April following its November relocation. But one tradition will remain sidelined for another spring.

On Monday Augusta National confirmed its Wednesday Par 3 Contest will not be played this season.

“Due to social distancing protocols, the Par 3 Contest will not be conducted in 2021,” an Augusta National spokesperson said. “It is our hope that this event will resume in 2022.”

Augusta National’s Par 3 course, designed by George Cobb and club co-founder Cliff Roberts, opened in the fall of 1958 to rave reviews. The nine-hole course was such a hit that it was incorporated into the Masters, with the inaugural Par 3 Contest won by Sam Snead in 1960. In the years since the Par 3 Contest has become one of the more popular rituals during tournament week. Aside from those playing in the Masters, the Par 3 is filled with retired legends making a victory lap of sorts, producing a nostalgic ambience to the proceedings.

The Par 3 Contest has also transformed into something resembling a “family day” for the players, many allowing friends or family to serve as their caddies (or in some instances, their proxy on the ninth tee box). Despite this sentiment, the Par 3 is also noted for its “curse,” as no player has won the Par 3 and the Masters in the same year. Most Masters entrants will purposefully DQ at the Par-3 Contest, hoping to avoid the event’s jinx. The last Par 3 winner, Matt Wallace, missed the cut with a 75 and 77 in 2019.

The Par 3 Contest was also cancelled last year as the Masters was closed off to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Augusta National has said it intends to host a limited number of patrons this year, although that figure has not been publicly announced yet.

The 2021 Masters begins April 8. Dustin Johnson is the defending champ.

The post Augusta National confirms no Par 3 Contest for 2021 appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.