Canadians to test Masters curse as Par-3 Contest returns

Mike Weir and Mackenzie Hughes, both Canadians, were voted co-winners of the Masters’ Par-3 Contest on Wednesday, putting them in the path of the feared Masters curse.

Weir and Hughes shot four-under-par 23s on the specially built course, which was resurrected after a two-year suspension due to Covid-19.

Players at the Masters were having a good time, with their children often helping as caddies, until a storm hit and officials had to call the tournament off for safety reasons before some golfers had even teed off.

With the reinstatement of the competition came the return of the Masters Par-3 winner’s curse, as no victor of the Masters-eve event has ever gone on to win the green jacket the following year.

Two men shared the title for the third time in Par-3 history, dating back to 1960, with Ireland’s Padraig Harrington tying for first place with Americans David Toms in 2003 and Jonathan Byrd in 2012.

On Sunday, Hughes and Weir will attempt to break the hoodoo and don a green jacket.

Weir, the 2003 Masters champion, started in the second group and set the tone right away.

“It’s always such a great tradition here to be playing this,” Weir said. “You come out and you want to hit some good shots, get a good feel and leave a good taste in your mouth.”

In regards to the curse, Weir, a 51-year-old sceptic, adopted the motto of Mark O’Meara, the 1998 Masters winner who won the 2007 Par-3 Contest.

“I like Mark’s line,” left-hander Weir said. “He said he already had the green jacket.”

Hughes, 31, who won his only PGA victory at the RSM Classic on the Georgia coast in 2016, was unconcerned about the curse. He was simply relieved to be able to complete alongside his two children.

“I was really excited to get out here and do this,” Hughes said. “It was a special day. To have a family day like this before one of the biggest tournaments of the year is pretty cool.”

American Jason Kokrak made the only hole-in-one, acing the 130-yard fourth.

Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, with three titles in the past two months, enjoyed the relaxed affair before Thursday’s start of the year’s first major.

“Golf has been treating me pretty good. It’s awesome to be out here,” Scheffler said. “I’ve prepared the best I can to play well.”

Jon Rahm, the reigning US Open winner, and his son, who was born the Saturday before last year’s Masters, relished the opportunity to dress him up as a baby caddy.

“It’s really cool they let us do this with the family and it’s a very nice event to have before starting the Masters,” Rahm said. “It’s fun to do before something so demanding. I’m glad we have it back.”

Rory McIlroy was there with daughter Poppy, although their stay was a short one.

“Even though we only got one hole in because of this weather, it was fun and I’m glad we got to do it,” McIlroy said.

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