On the eve of golf’s most storied major, Colombian golfer Nicolás Echavarría etched his name into Augusta lore with a thrilling playoff victory over J.J. Spaun in the Masters Par-Three Contest on Wednesday. Echavarría birdied the second playoff hole to seal the win, despite the longstanding “curse” associated with the event — no winner of the Par-Three Contest has ever gone on to win the Masters in the same year.
But the 29-year-old, playing in his first Masters after qualifying via his 2023 Zozo Championship win, isn’t fazed. “It feels awesome,” Echavarría said. “Being my first time and winning this, it feels incredible. Hopefully we change the tradition.”
Echavarría and Spaun both carded a five-under-par 22 on the charming nine-hole, 1,090-yard course nestled within Augusta National. The playoff took place on the 135-yard ninth hole, where the duo opened with pars before Echavarría drained a birdie to claim the crystal pedestal bowl awarded to the winner.
While history suggests he faces an uphill battle — no rookie has won the Masters since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 — Echavarría is embracing the moment. “Having a blast out here,” he added. “This place is truly special.”
The Par-Three Contest, first played in 1960, is known for its lighthearted atmosphere — a stark contrast to the pressure cooker that begins Thursday with the start of the tournament proper. Participants often bring children or loved ones to caddie, creating moments that are as memorable as they are heartwarming.
There were three aces this year, pushing the total tally in the event to 115. Keegan Bradley, U.S. Ryder Cup captain, made a hole-in-one at the sixth and celebrated with a joyful hug from his kids. “It was up there with my favorite moments of my golf career — maybe even my life,” Bradley said.
Brooks Koepka added his name to the list of aces with a strike at the sixth hole while enjoying the day with his son Crew. Meanwhile, Tom Hoge, last year’s Par-Three champion, repeated his 2023 magic with another ace — this time on the fourth.
Rory McIlroy, still seeking his elusive Masters title to complete a career Grand Slam, took part in the contest with his daughter Poppy on his bag. “It means more when you have a family,” McIlroy reflected. “If you’re not ready by now, you don’t really have a chance.”
As Echavarría prepares to tee it up in Thursday’s first round, the question remains: Can he break the Par-Three curse and write a fairytale chapter in Masters history?
My Goat Sports 