US Masters Tips: Par 3 Contest

US Masters / Steven Rawlings / 04 April 2011 / 2

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The stunning Par 3 course at Augusta

“Don’t get cross if your pick is in with a chance but then lets their son or daughter take a shot! It’s an incredibly relaxed affair and if ever there was an event where winning was an irrelevance then this is it.”

For the first time ever we're set to enjoy live coverage of the Masters Par 3 Contest so Steve's had a look at the history books for clues...

As someone who takes their betting seriously I don't often indulge in a 'fun bet' but I'll be tempted to place one on Wednesday. For the first time ever TV viewers will get to see the traditional Par-3 competition live and I might just part with a few bob.

First introduced in 1960 and won by Augusta legend Sam Snead, the par- 3 competition is played on the nine-hole par-27 course which winds its way over DeSoto Springs Pond and Ike's Pond. It's not the main event by any means but it will be an enjoyable and visually stunning aperitif.

The course record is just 20, set by Art Wall in 1965 and matched by Gay Brewer in 1973. Over the years there have been 72 holes in one, with an incredible five recorded in one year, 2002 and the most renowned fact is that no winner has ever gone on to win that year's Masters.

Picking out a selection is obviously hard and almost entirely guess work but one angle is maybe to back a previous winner. Sandy Lyle, David Toms and Padraig Harrington have all won the event twice in recent years. Another possibly noteworthy stat is that a South African has won the event in each of the last three years. Open champ Louis Oosthuizen followed Tim Clark in 2009 and Rory Sabbatini in 2008 when he claimed the price last year and he'll do for my 'fun bet'.

The key thing here is to treat this tournament with plenty of caution. Players often have family members caddy for them so don't get cross if your pick is in with a chance but then lets their son or daughter take a shot! It's an incredibly relaxed affair and if ever there was an event where winning was an irrelevance then this is it. In essence, it's the archetypical market for a 'fun bet' so I don't recommend wading in with a wad.

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Dan Geraghty | 06 April 2011

Careful Steve, I think Louie's said he'll get his daughter to kick the ball should he be in with a chance this year!
Steven Rawlings | 06 April 2011

Cheers Dan, The word minefield springs to mind!

Good luck this week mate.