A day after a pair of 40-somethings in Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson grabbed Masters headlines for playing a practice round together, a 68-year-old stole the spotlight. Who says golf is a young man’s game?
Tom Watson, 18 months away from 70, turned in a six-under 21 to beat Tommy Fleetwood and Thomas Pieters by a shot during the traditional pre-tournament Par 3 Contest.
Watson’s feats weren’t the only fireworks to come out of his group. On the final hole, Jack Nicklaus allowed his grandson Gary to hit. The youngster made the most of the opportunity, making an ace, and recording one of the loudest roars of the afternoon.
Dylan Frittelli and Tony Finau also made holes-in-one on Wednesday, although the latter’s was followed by a scary moment, as Finau rolled his ankle in celebration on the seventh hole. He apparently was OK, playing the final two holes without incident, but the results of a morning MRI will determine whether he starts his first Masters.
But the day belonged to Watson, who retired from the tournament in 2016. He had won the event previously… when he was the defending Masters champion in 1982. He’s just the third green jacket owner to win the Par 3 Contest twice, joining Sandy Lyle and Sam Snead.
Watson also took Slammin’ Sammy’s record as the oldest Par 3 Contest winner, as Snead was 61 when he won the competition in 1974.
Perhaps Fleetwood and Pieters owe Watson a favour: no player has won the Par 3 Contest and Masters in the same year.
