Fowler is Par 3 champ
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rickie Fowler has returned to the Masters after a three-year absence, and already he’s been able to lift a trophy.
The question now is whether that will cost him a chance to slip on a jacket.
Fowler won the traditional Par 3 Contest at Augusta National on Wednesday, making his way around what many consider the most picturesque piece of the property in 5 under par. That was good for a two-stroke victory over Sepp Straka, J.T. Poston and Santiago de la Fuente, and earn Fowler the glittering crystal bowl that goes to the winner.
Yet nobody has won the Par 3 Contest and the green jacket in the same year, leading some to believe in a curse.
“This is a place you don’t want to miss,” said Fowler, who spent most of three years chasing his game before winning the Rocket Mortgage Classic last year in a playoff with Collin Morikawa and Adam Hadwin. “Sitting on the couch, it’s one of the few events that you would watch as a fan and professional golfer, but it’s a lot better when you’re a part of it.”
There were five aces during the contest.
Luke List, who calls Augusta his hometown these days, had the first, though it wasn’t his first in the contest. He had one way back in 2005.
Straka, Viktor Hovland, Gary Woodland and Lucas Glover also had aces on a warm, sun-drenched afternoon, perhaps the last of the sunshine for a while with the forecast calling for thunderstorms for today’s opening round.
End of an era
This will be the 40th and final Masters for CBS broadcaster Verne Lundquist.
Lundquist has had many memorable calls over his career, including Jack Nicklaus’ birdie on No. 17 on the way to winning in 1986 and Woods’ birdie chip on No. 16 on the way to winning in 2005.
Of the latter call, Lundquist famously said: “Oh wow! In your life have you seen anything like that?”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that call a couple times,” Woods said with a smile Tuesday. “He has just an amazing ability to bring in the audience and describe a situation and just be able to narrate it in a way that is poetic, but it’s also — he describes it with emotionality. He just draws the audience in.”
No cellphones
There is a no cellphones policy at Augusta National.
It’s one tradition of the Masters that has remained even as other PGA Tour events have allowed the use of phones during the tournament.
Jordan Spieth was asked about the absence of phones on Tuesday. The former champion understands that fans with phones can help promote the game and add to the overall experience. But for one week, it is “amazing” to be without them.
“It’s nice for a week, but if it was every tournament … our growth would be limited,” Spieth said. “But what’s really cool about it is you just feel that everyone’s very, very present.”
Honorary starters
The Masters will officially get underway today with the honorary starter ceremony. Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson will hit from No. 1 at 7:40 a.m. — weather permitting. The three combined to win 11 Masters Tournaments and have made 140 tournament appearances.