Masters Par 3 Contest 2015: Date, Live Stream Info and Preview
The Masters Par 3 Contest takes place at Augusta National Golf Club's short nine-hole course, and the 2015 edition marks the 55th annual competition.
No one has ever won and then gone on to slip on the green jackets come Masters Sunday. Last year's Par 3 Contest champion, Ryan Moore, missed the cut.
Wednesday's exhibition often features family members or significant others caddying for the players. It's designed as a bit of a fun outlet prior to the time the world's best golfers get down to business in Thursday's first round.
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Read on for more information about the event, including a bit of a preview and further details on what will go on.
| Wednesday, April 8 | 12 p.m. | ESPN (3-5 p.m. ET) | Masters.com (3-7 p.m. ET) |
2015 Masters Par 3 Contest Preview
Although the players are slated to tee off at noon, most of the biggest stars tend to take their time. No specific tee times are scheduled, keeping in line with the light and loose atmosphere.
One notable change will come in the form of one typical marquee trio. All-time major record holder Jack Nicklaus and global golf ambassador Gary Player will play alongside Ben Crenshaw in one of the groups this year.
Crenshaw, a two-time Masters champion, replaces Arnold Palmer. The King is unable to give it a go due to a shoulder injury, as reported by ESPN.com's Bob Harig.
The report also contained comments from Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne, who hinted that Crenshaw's inclusion is a tribute to the 63-year-old as he prepares to tee it up in the Maters for the last time.
"We felt (it) was a fitting way to acknowledge the end of Ben's illustrious 44 years of competition at the Masters," said Payne. "We look forward to Arnold's return to the Par 3 Contest next year."
Ever the class act, Crenshaw was humbled by the gesture, per Golf Channel's Rex Hoggard:
Most players participate in the contest though some opt not to based on the jinx that winners seem to have. With how many mental games Augusta National can play on even the game's best, the Par 3 Contest can add yet another psychological hurdle.
For the most part, though, the short holes, the trick shots some golfers attempt and the cameos from the caddies or family members make the contest a wonderful element to the Masters' rich tradition.
Just to go down the list of the PGA Tour's best on par threes this season, a few intriguing names pop up among those who will be in action at the Masters.
Ben Martin is second in birdies or better average on such holes. Fresh off a fifth-place finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Martin may carry that over at least to the contest and win should his second Masters appearance be too much to handle.
Two better-known commodities in brash American Patrick Reed and 2011 Masters runner-up Jason Day are 15th and 20th, respectively, in birdies or better on par threes.
Reed just canned an ace at the Shell Houston Open this past Saturday to help his ranking in the category, courtesy of the PGA Tour on Twitter:
But Day has to be champing at the bit to get back in contention at Augusta. After another shot at his maiden major title in 2013 saw him finish third, a nagging thumb injury prevented Day from playing to his potential for much of last season, yet he still grinded through pain to finish tied for 20th in last year's Masters.
Winning the Par 3 Contest may not be what Day wants to do if he's meant to be in the hunt on the back nine on Sunday. However, he has the talent and game to be the first to pull off the elusive double.
A lax scene in Wednesday's impending showcase makes it difficult to get a handle on who will come through as the champion.
The event is well worth watching regardless—because it is golf at Augusta National. For the more steadfast fans, that's enough for this time of year.
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