Tom Hoge Wins the Pre-tournament Par 3 Contest
The highly anticipated Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Course kicked off on Wednesday, with Tom Hoge emerging victorious. The 32-year-old American golfer finished with a score of six-under 21, securing the win in an impressive performance.
Hoge’s victory was highlighted by his hole-in-one on the eighth hole, making him one of five players to achieve such a feat during the event and earning him the third-highest number of holes-in-one in the tournament’s history. Additionally, Seamus Power hit back-to-back holes-in-one on the eighth and ninth hole, becoming only the third player in tournament history to accomplish this impressive feat.
Bubba Watson and Kurt Kitayama Share Second Place
Bubba Watson and Kurt Kitayama were tied for second place with a score of five-under. Scottie Scheffler, the reigning Masters champion, also hit an ace on his final hole.
The annual Par 3 Contest precedes the prestigious Masters Tournament and is considered a fun tradition among golfers and fans alike. The contest is a way for players to loosen up before the real action begins.
This year’s Masters Tournament will be live on Sky Sports Golf starting Thursday. Fans can enjoy wall-to-wall coverage from 2 p.m. on both rounds, with additional feeds and coverage available via Sky Q, Sky Glass, and red button services. The Amen Corner stream will also be accessible on the Sky Sports Golf YouTube channel and the Sky Sports App.
Tee Times Announced for Opening Round of The Masters
Earlier this week, tee times were announced for the opening round of The Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Course. The tournament is set to begin exclusively live from 2 p.m. on Thursday via Sky Sports Golf.
Kevin Na and Mike Weir will tee off at Hole 1 at 1300 BST, while Tony Finau, Tommy Fleetwood and Jordan Spieth will end the day at 1900 BST. Tiger Woods is scheduled to tee off at 1518 BST, followed by Rory McIlroy at 1848 BST.
Viewers can access extra feeds and follow their favorite players’ progress via red button services on Sky Sports Golf, Sky Q, and Sky Glass. The Amen Corner stream will also be available for all four rounds and focus on the famous three-hole stretch from the 11th.
Scottie Scheffler Aims to Defend Masters Championship
Looking ahead to next year’s Masters Tournament, Scottie Scheffler will attempt to become the fourth player in history to successfully defend his Masters championship.
Scheffler’s victory in the 2021 tournament saw him rise up the world rankings, placing him among the top three ranked players in the world alongside Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm. However, there remains a significant drop-off in both statistics and perception after these top-ranked players.
Rain remains a threat to wash out weekend rounds, which could potentially lead to the first Monday finish since 1983. Augusta National has also lengthened its signature 13th hole, making it even more challenging than before.
With golf ball rollbacks and LIV golfers dominating conversations about the sport’s future, it’s worth noting that these issues have little relevance to the green jacket that each Masters winner covets. Legacy is not a motivating factor for Scheffler; he is simply trying to join the ranks of players like Nicklaus, Woods, and Faldo as a player who has successfully defended a Masters title.
Players like Rahm, McIlroy and Scheffler appreciate the difficulty and history of making it big in the golf world, but it remains to be seen if they will ever be compared to legendary players like Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, or even Woods himself. Rahm believes they would need to maintain a high level of performance for at least five years to achieve that kind of admiration from fans and peers alike.
As the golf world looks ahead to next year’s Masters Tournament, Scheffler’s calm demeanor, McIlroy’s aspirations for a Grand Slam victory, and Rahm’s drive to win multiple majors are all sure to generate excitement among golf enthusiasts everywhere.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
