Masters survey 2023: Does the Par 3 curse deter pros from trying to win Wednesday’s contest?
Nobody has ever won Wednesday’s Par 3 Contest and the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in the same week.
Raymond Floyd came closest in 1990, when the 47-year-old was in line to become the oldest Masters champion. Floyd recorded his only Par 3 victory and seemed on course to snap the curse Sunday afternoon. Following a birdie on No. 12, Floyd was four strokes clear of Nick Faldo with six holes to play. But Faldo ended up slipping into a Green Jacket in a playoff for a second straight year.
Just three years later, Chip Beck won the warm-up act and was three strokes behind Bernhard Langer entering Sunday’s 15th hole. But Beck laid up from the fairway and Langer coasted to his second Masters crown.
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All these years later, the curse of the Par 3 Contest winner lives. Do today’s pros believe in it, and did the Par 3 curse deter them from participating or trying to win the Par 3?
Keegan Bradley
Keegan Bradley on a green with his wife Jillian Stacey and son Logan James during the Par 3 Contest prior to the 2019 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
“I’d love to win it. I had a chance one year, and I missed a birdie putt at the last.”
Sam Burns
“Not really. It’s got to happen at some point.”
Stewart Cink
Stewart Cink reacts to his shot on the ninth hole during the Par 3 Contest ahead of the 2012 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
“I don’t think I ever came to the last hole with a good round going but I do believe in the curse. How can you not? It’s never happened.”
Corey Conners
Malory Conners, wife of Corey Conners, at the 2019 Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
“Definitely not. If I happen to win, I won’t be thinking I have a worse chance of winning. It would just make me feel like I’m playing well and have a chance to win.”
Harris English
“Someone is going to break that curse one year and I hope it’s me.”
Tony Finau
Tony Finau and his family at the 2022 Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
“I participate because I love having my wife and kids out there, but I will never try to win it. Let’s not try to test the waters.”
Matt Fitzpatrick
Matthew Fitzpatrick and his caddie at the Par 3 Contest ahead of the 2022 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
“No. It’s great fun. I’d never miss it. I try to relax and if I make a bunch of birdies then great and if I don’t I’m not really upset.”
Tommy Fleetwood
Tommy Fleetwood talks with his son, Frankie, on the fifth hole at the 2022 Masters Par 3 Contest. (Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran-Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY Network)
“My dad caddied for me my first year and he was on me all day to win it. I’d love to be the first to win them both the same week.”
Jim Furyk
Jim Furyk with daughter Caleigh and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during the 2014 Par 3 Contest at the 2014 Masters. (David Cannon/Getty Images)
“I always participated, but it definitely deterred me from trying to win. I’m superstitious so I wasn’t above firing one in the water. I don’t remember what year it was, but I was a bunch under and just wanted to make sure (I didn’t win).”
Max Homa
“I think it would be so cool to be the one to break that curse. I grew up on a par-3 course and that’s the ultimate par-3 course I’ve ever been to.”
Billy Horschel
Billy Horschel plays with his daughter Skylar as wife Brittany looks on during 2016 Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)
“Yes. I am superstitious. I would love to win the Par 3 but I want to win the tournament first. All I try to do is hit one as close as I can to win some crystal, which I did last year, but I let my kids putt on every hole so I don’t have to keep score.”
Viktor Hovland
Viktor Hovland at the 2019 Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
“I’d like to win it. It’s more about having fun. You’re not really trying to keep score.”
Trevor Immelman
“Never needed to because my kid’s hit shots by the third hole.”
Zach Johnson
“I don’t buy into it. Crystal is crystal.”
Kevin Kisner
Kevin Kisner with daughter Kate during the Par 3 Contest ahead of the 2019 Masters at Augusta National Golf CLub. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
“I never finish a hole because I’m too busy rounding up kids. I couldn’t shoot 5 under on that thing anyway. It’s too hard.”
Matt Kuchar
Matt Kuchar at the Par 3 Contest ahead of the 2019 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
“I think somebody has to break that curse. That’s got to be broken and would be pretty cool to break.”
Collin Morikawa
Collin Morikawa and his fiancee Katherine Zhu smile during the Par 3 Contest ahead of the 2022 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Keyur Khamar/PGA Tour via Getty Images)
“It doesn’t deter me. I’d love to win it. Why not? It’s got to happen at some point.”
Jack Nicklaus
“No. I don’t tank.”
Gary Player
Gary Player, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus walk together during the Par 3 Contest prior to the 2019 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
“Absolutely not. The Par 3 Contest is for the fans who make the Masters so very special. I feel it’s our duty as participants to play in the Par 3 and interact with them in a more lighthearted way than we do when playing in the actual tournament. I took and still take pride in playing well in the Par 3. They give prizes for closest to the pin and I always want to win those.”
Jon Rahm
Jon Rahm of Spain’s fiancé, Kelley Cahill, reacts after making a putt during the Par 3 Contest for the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Augusta National/The Masters)
“I kind of believe in it because nobody has done it. I don’t go out there trying to win. I try to make a hole in one and be as aggressive as possible. I let my wife hit putts and in the future I’m sure my kids will be putting.”
Xander Schauffele
“It’s a really fun thing but it takes a lot out of you. I’ve done both. The curse doesn’t cross my mind at all.”
Adam Scott
Tim Clark, Trevor Immelman and Adam Scott at the Par 3 Contest ahead of the 2012 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
“Yes. It’s a fact. One year, I think it was 2012 when my sister was caddying for me, I was 5 under through seven holes and I hit it in the water at the eighth. I wasn’t trying to hit it in the water, but I wasn’t disappointed either.”
Jordan Spieth
Rickie Fowler, Jillian Wisniewski, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Annie Verret, and Allison Stokke watch a putt during the 2019 Par 3 Contest prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
“It’s really hard to win so if you do I’d just take confidence off of hitting good wedges and making putts. I think it would be great to win it.”
Justin Thomas
“I’ve never finished out so that probably answers your question.”
Gary Woodland
Gary Woodland wit his son Jaxson at the 2022 Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran-Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY)
“I’m a superstitious guy. I’ve had my caddie at least hit a putt every single time (thus eliminating me from being in contention to win).”
Will Zalatoris
“Covid and Mother Nature have gotten in the way, and I’ve yet to play. But I do firmly plan to have my wife hit one shot, which will disqualify me anyways but it’s definitely not because I’m superstitious.”
