ESPN on-air personality Mike Tirico is approaching the network's initial broadcast of the Masters Tournament's Par-3 Contest with the belief that the competition itself will color the commentary and guide the telecast's tone.
The Par 3 Course at the Augusta National Golf Club.
(Chris Thelen/Staff)
"I've always believed the event dictates how it is broadcast," he said Monday. "The Par-3 is a deep breath before the tournament. I think the broadcast will communicate that, as well as the family atmosphere."
Par-3 competitors frequently look to their family members for assistance. It isn't unusual to see a golfer's child manning his bag -- at least figuratively -- and even taking some putts. Tirico said he sees that as one of the great rewards of ESPN being allowed to televise the event for the first time.
"I mean, when you see some of the biggest golfers out there with their kids, how can kids not respond?" he said. "How can they not become enthusiastic about the game?"
Tirico said his job today is simple: He wants to convey a sense of being at the course to viewers.
He was quick to say that although he might be ESPN's public face for the event, he's only a small part of a larger machine bringing the action to the audience.
"It just happens to be my voice," he said with a laugh.
Tirico
(Annette M. Drowlette/Staff)
Tirico said the best part of the gig is the opportunity to return to Augusta National Golf Club.
"There's really nothing like it," he said.
"After five years being away, coming back through that gate this morning gave chills and made me smile. It's really something special."
Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626 or steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.
THE CONTEST
WHERE: Par-3 Course
WHEN: Today at 1 p.m.
ONTV: ESPN, 3-5 p.m.
COURSE YARDAGE: 1,060
HISTORY: Since its inception in 1960, the Par-3 Contest has become a Masters tradition. The contest is held the Wednesday of Masters Week on the Par-3 Course, built by George Cobb and Clifford Roberts in 1958. Tournament participants, noncompeting past champions and honorary invitees are eligible to participate.
The light-hearted competition has become a favorite of fans and golfers alike. Golfers frequently bring along family members to caddie during the contest and have been known to let patrons help out with putts.
There have been 18 sudden-death playoffs since the Par-3 Contest was instituted.
HOLES-IN-ONE: Sixty-three holes-in-one have been made in the history of the contest, with a record five being scored in 2002. Gary Player holds the record for most holes-in-one in the contest with three (on No. 9 in 1983, on No. 7 in 1986 and on No. 2 in 1983).
WINNERS: The course record of 20 is held by Art Wall Jr. (1965) and Gay Brewer (1973). The highest winning score is 24, by Tommy Nakajima in 1988, Rocco Mediate in 1991 and Sandy Lyle in 1998.
No Par-3 winner has gone on to win the Masters Tournament in the same year. No one has won the Par-3 more than twice.
- Staff reports
PAR-3 WINNERS
1960 Sam Snead 23
1961 Deane Beman 22
1962 Bruce Crampton 22
1963* George Bayer 23
1964 Labron Harris Jr. 23
1965 Art Wall Jr. 20
1966 Jerry Dill 22
1967* Arnold Palmer 23
1968 Bob Rosburg 22
1969* Bob Lunn 23
1970 Harold Henning 21
1971* Dave Stockton 23
1972 Steve Melnyk 23
1973 Gay Brewer 20
1974* Sam Snead 23
1975* Isao Aoki 23
1976 Jay Haas 21
1977* Tom Weiskopf 23
1978* Lou Graham 22
1979 Joe Inman Jr. 23
1980 Johnny Miller 23
1981 Isao Aoki 22
1982* Tom Watson 23
1983 Hale Irwin 22
1984 Tommy Aaron 22
1985 Hubert Green 22
1986* Gary Koch 23
1987 Ben Crenshaw 22
1988 Tommy Nakajima 24
1989* Bob Gilder 22
1990 Raymond Floyd 23
1991* Rocco Mediate 24
1992 Davis Love III22
1993 Chip Beck 21
1994 Vijay Singh 22
1995* Hal Sutton 23
1996* Jay Haas 22
1997* Sandy Lyle 24
1998 Sandy Lyle 24
1999 Joe Durant 22
2000* Chris Perry 23
2001 David Toms 22
2002* Nick Price 22
2003# Padraig Harrington, David Toms21
2004* Padraig Harrington 23
2005 Jerry Pate 22
2006 Ben Crane 23
2007 Mark O'Meara 22
*Won in playoff
#Tied