Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and American Jonathan Byrd shared the honour of winning the pre-Masters Tournament Par 3 contest, which was cut short by storms at Augusta National.
Three-time Major Champion Harrington, who previously won the traditional Wednesday event in 2003 when it was also shortened by bad weather, and 2004. He took 22 shots around the nine-hole Par 3 course, to share the lead on five under par with Byrd.
Thunder storms similar to those that damaged the course on Tuesday night then forced a suspension in play, and the pair were declared the winners ahead of Australian Adam Scott on four under. Webb Simpson and Jerry Pate were also four under par, through eight holes and four holes respectively, when play was abandoned.
No winner of the Par 3 contest has gone on to win the Masters Tournament in the same year, but Harrington, who was joined by his two children Patrick and Ciarán, said he enjoyed the fun contest.
“It was the nicest time I’ve played the Par 3 contest. This is my 13th time playing it, and there was the least amount of wind today, so the scoring was on.
“The whole thing is memorable. I didn't hit anything stone dead or anything like that. I actually had pretty average shots and played nicely for nine holes.”
Denmark Thomas Björn aced the ninth hole and Mark Wilson the fourth, to make it 75 holes-in-one since the contest began in 1960.
The featured group was Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, who played only a couple holes before the event was called. The Big Three will convene again Thursday at 7:40 a.m. as honorary starters, with Player joining his former rivals for the first time.
