The stars of golf, their wives and their children adorably joined forces for The Masters’ famous Par-3 competition on Wednesday, just a day out from the tournament beginning for real at Augusta National.
The Par-3 tournament, which has been going on at The Masters since 1960, sees many players caddied by their wives and accompanied by their children, who are allowed to participate in the sweet competition.
On Wednesday, 2015 Masters winner Jordan Spieth was one of the first players to tee off, and quickly gave fans a heartwarming moment as his son Sammy drove the ball in his place.
The tot’s shot didn’t travel far but he received a huge applause from the crowd as he went and hugged his father.
There is no prize money for winning the Par-3 contest, which is held at a separate nine-hole area of the famed golf club.
Spieth was also accompanied on the course by his daughter, Sophie, and his wife, Annie, who caddied for the 31-year-old.
Scottie Scheffler and his wife, Meredith, walk down the course as he carries their son, Bennett, in his arms
Jordan Spieth watches on as his son Sammy attempts a shot on the third hole of the Par-3 contest on Wednesday
Max Homa’s son, Cam, also tried his luck with some putting on the course, which is separate from where The Masters is held
Russell Henley’s daughter, Jane, placed a second hat on his head in a humorous morning on Wednesday
And there were plenty more families seen at the competition.
Jason Day was joined by his wife, Ellie, and children Dash, Lucy, Arrow and Oz, while Max Homa and his wife, Lacey, watched on as their young son, Cam, attempted to putt.
Homa and Justin Thomas were seen laughing as Cam putted on the first hole of the course, with the toddler at one point falling over on the green.
On the ESPN+ broadcast of the event, Homa told of how he asked Wyndham Clark to bring a children’s putter to Georgia, as the former didn’t have any more room in his luggage.
‘I felt like I was carrying the most important thing ever,’ Clark said in the broadcast, as reported by The Athletic.
Thomas was also joined by his wife, Jillian, and their daughter, Molly, while Scottie Scheffler could be also seen carrying his son, Bennett, down the first hole.
The reigning Masters champion was caddied by his wife, Meredith, while Will Zalatoris also employed his spouse, Caitlin, as his own caddy.
Austin Eckroat, Davis Thompson and Keegan Bradley could be seen with their better halves as well early in the competition, while Russell Henley carried his daughter, Jane, on his shoulders at one point. His wife, Teil, also accompanied him as did his daughter, Ruth, and his son, Robert.
Despite the lighthearted nature of the competition, it does carry a sort of curse, as no one has ever gone on to win The Masters after taking the Par-3 prize.
Homa and Justin Thomas react as Homa’s son, Cam, attempts to putt on the 1st hole during the Par-3 contest
Thomas, a two-time Major winner, was seen carrying his baby daughter, Molly, during the competition
Austin Eckroat smiles with his wife, Sally, during the Par-3 contest on Wednesday afternoon in Augusta
Max Homa’s son, Cam, took a tumble as he was putting on the green during the competition
Jason Day and his children Dash, Lucy, Arrow and Oz walk down the first hole with Bubba Watson and his children Caleb and Dakota
Last year’s winner, Rickie Fowler, finished tied for 30th in The Masters after claiming victory in the Par-3.
‘I never really buy into the jinx too much but I’ve never turned in a [score] card, so how’s that for an answer?’ Thomas said on the ESPN+ broadcast when asked about the trend.
‘We always have some kind of a hole in one bet, it’s pretty much if you don’t make a hole in one, the hole’s generally over. Like, there’s absolutely no way I’m grinding over this putt and trying to make this. I’m picking this up and we’re going to the next hole.’
However, Thomas was less verbose when Clark asked him about his wife, Meredith’s golf skills.
‘Next question,’ he cracked.
The tournament will begin on Thursday morning at 7:40 a.m. ET Thursday, with Davis Riley and Patton Kizzire the first players to tee of.
Scheffler, a two-time Masters winner, will be looking to defend his title after beginning at 10:15am on Thursday.
On Tuesday, he hosted 32 of the 35 past Masters winner at the ceremonial champions dinner, though an injured Tiger Woods was absent.
As is tradition, current green jacket holder Scheffler picked the menu, opting for a Texas-inspired set of dishes which included meat or fish in everything but the dessert.
The first course on the night was a flaming-hot chili covered in cheddar cheese and jalapenos, which set 1979 winner Fuzzy Zoeller’s taste buds ablaze.
‘It was a five-alarm fire,’ Zoeller joked about the chili. ‘I had to call the fire department to blow it out.’
The rest of the menu included cheeseburger sliders, firecracker shrimp and ‘Papa Scheff’s Meatball & Ravioli Bites’ for appetizers, ‘Wood-Fired Cowboy Ribeye or Blackened Redfish’ for the main course and a ‘Warm Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie’ for dessert.
