Masters: Tom Watson, 68, claims remarkable win in Par 3 contest
Written by News on 05/04/2018
Tom Watson rolled back the years to claim an unlikely victory in the Par 3 contest on the eve of the 2018 Masters.
The 68-year-old and fellow legends Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player all produced superb performances to the delight of the patrons at Augusta National, with the group a combined 12 under par for the traditional nine-hole event.
Watson, Masters champion in 1977 and 1981, was in inspired form as he birdied six of the first eight holes and made a tricky three-foot putt for par at the last to snatch a one-shot win over England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Belgian Thomas Pieters.
Victory for Watson also ensures that the record of no player winning the Par 3 contest and the main tournament in the same year will continue, as Watson competed in his final Masters two years ago.
However, Watson is the only player to hold both titles at the same time having won the Par 3 contest in 1982 as the defending Masters champion.
Nicklaus finished in a commendable tie for third on four under par, although the six-time Masters champion was upstaged at the ninth when his caddie, grandson Gary, recorded a remarkable hole-in-one to prompt the loudest cheers of the day.
Dylan Frittelli made the first ace of the competition at the eighth hole before Tony Finau holed his tee shot to the eighth, although the big-hitting American then suffered a huge injury scare during his celebrations.
After spinning his ball back into the cup from distance, Finau ran up the fairway with arms aloft and then turned to jog backwards when he rolled his left ankle and collapsed to the turf.
Finau then appeared to pop his ankle joint back into place before limped gingerly towards the green to collect his ball from the hole, although he was able to hit his tee shot to the eighth before withdrawing and his place in Thursday’s field looks in jeopardy.
Fleetwood was one of the early starters and set the early target at five under par, which appeared likely to be good enough for victory until Watson claimed the spoils late in the day, with Pieters coming within a whisker of the ace he needed at the last to force a play-off.
Only 22 players actually posted official scores, with the majority of the competitors happy to let caddies and members of their family take over for the last few holes.
(c) Sky News 2018: Masters: Tom Watson, 68, claims remarkable win in Par 3 contest
