Action at the 89th Masters unofficially kicked off Wednesday with one of the great side traditions within the tradition unlike any other. The Masters Par 3 Contest, nestled on the same property and held each Wednesday prior to the beginning of championship competition, featured happy-go-lucky golf that comes with much less tension than what is to be expected Thursday to Sunday.
Largely a family event, the Par 3 Contest sees golfers bring their significant others and/or children onto the Par 3 Course -- all dressed in signature white Augusta National caddie jumpsuits. The 2025 event was no different with the kids of the world's best golfers hitting drives, sinking putts and running around the grounds.
While the true value of the Par 3 Contest is that it allows players to relax and enjoy the day before the tournament pressure ratchets up, there is a competition at play. This year's event ended in a playoff between Nico Echavarria and J.J. Spaun after both shot a 5-under 22. Ultimately, it was Echavarria who won with a birdie on the second playoff hole (both coming at No. 9) as Spaun made a bogey.
The Masters debutant will now look to make Augusta National history this week as no Par 3 Contest winner has gone on to win the green jacket since the event was introduced in 1960. This year's contest featured three players making a hole-in-one, as Keegan Bradley, Tom Hoge and Brooks Koepka each carded a 1 and earned themselves some crystal in the process.
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It took 11 holes to decide a Par 3 Contest champion this year, but Masters rookie Nico Echavarria outlasted J.J. Spaun in a playoff. After they both made pars on No. 9 on the first playoff hole, Echavarria stuck his tee shot to just a few feet and rolled in the birdie putt to beat Spaun and get the win.
With play completed for the day and Echavarria and Spaun tied at 5 under, the two will play No. 9 up to three times to break the tie and determine a winner.
Both made par on their first attempt, and will return to the tee box for a second time.
Echavarria played his second almost perfectly, giving it a look at a hole-in-one and leaving a short birdie putt. Spaun, meanwhile, almost got the announcer jinx put on him by his kid, who said "don't make it in the water" right before he swung and he tugged his tee shot right of the green and almost into the water.
The third hole-in-one of Wednesday came from Brooks Koepka, as he matched Keegan Bradley with a 1 on the sixth hole.
Masters rookie Nico Echavarria posted a 5-under 22 in his debut at the Masters Par 3 Contest, eliminating the big group tied at 3 under, but he was quickly matched by Spaun making his second appearance at Augusta National.
Nico Echavarria has jumped into the lead at 4 under thru 6 with Bubba Watson, Mark O'Meara and Davis Riley all in the club house at 3 under.
Tom Hoge joined Keegan Bradley with this beauty on the fourth hole as the past champion of the Par 3 moved to 2 under on his day.
Bubba Watson continues to lead with Davis Riley now tied with him at 3 under ahead of Mark O'Meara, Nick Faldo and others.
After a number of close calls early, Keegan Bradley delivered the first hole-in-one of Wednesday's Par 3 on the sixth hole.
The two-time Masters champion is looking to add a Par 3 Contest victory to his collection, as Watson posted a 3-under 24 in his Wednesday afternoon stroll around the Par 3 course.
As he finished up his nine, Watson was two clear of the rest of the field, with Nick Faldo, Matt McCarty and Maverick McNealy all at 1 under.
After an hour of play at the Masters Par 3 Contest, here is how the leaderboard stands at the top.
1. Scottie Scheffler (-2, thru 3)
2. Bubba Watson (-1, thru 5)
T3. Tom Kim (-1, thru 3)
T3. Evan Beck (-1, thru 5)
T5. Min Woo Lee (E, thru 5)
T5. Sam Burns (E, thru 5)
T5. Gary Player (E, thru 1)
T5. Thriston Lawrence (E, thru 1)
Scoring conditions early at the Par 3 have been tough, with few birdies on the cards from the early groups, but the defending Masters champion got off to a hot start with the closest tee shot of the day on 1 to set up a tap-in birdie -- which he made while holding his son in one arm.
A marquee group helped open up Wednesday's action at the Par 3 Contest, as three of the games stars and their families took to the first tee. Jordan Spieth had his son Sammy hit his opening drive, eliminating himself from the official competition immediately but offering a fun moment -- Sammy would also hit a drive on the second as well.
All three players made par, but only Thomas remained eligible for the Par 3 Contest crown after the first hole. He would pick up on 2 to join Homa and Spieth as non-scoring competitors.
