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Posted April 4, 2018, 11:02 pm
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Tom Watson wins Masters Par-3 Contest

  • Article Photos
    Tom Watson wins Masters Par-3 Contest
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    Jack Nicklaus' grandson GT Nicklaus reacts after making a hole-in-one on #7, jumping into the arms of Player's grandson Jordan Player, as Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Watson react during the Par 3 Contest at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, Wednesday, April 4, 2018, in Augusta, Georgia. [ANDREW DAVIS TUCKER/THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE]
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    Tom Watson wins Masters Par-3 Contest
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    Billy Horschel helps his daughter Skylar, 3, with his putter during the Par-3 Contest. Family members and friends often serve as caddies for the day for the annual event. [MICHAEL HOLAHAN/THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE]
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    Tom Watson wins Masters Par-3 Contest
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    Katelin and Claire Hoffman race down the seventh hole during the Par-3 Contest Wednesday at Augusta National Golf Club. [ANDY NELSON/THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE]
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    Tom Watson wins Masters Par-3 Contest
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    Some of the littlest caddies secure the pin for players Wesley Bryan, Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson during the Par-3 Contest. [MICHAEL HOLAHAN/THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE]
  • Article Photos
    Tom Watson wins Masters Par-3 Contest
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    Patrick Reed's wife, Justine, plays with daughter, Windsor-Wells during the Par-3 Contest. [NIGEL COOK/THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE]
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    Tom Watson wins Masters Par-3 Contest
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    Matt Kuchar's son Cameron reacts to a long putt on the No. 9 green during the Par-3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club. “It was awesome,” Cameron said. [MICHAEL HOLAHAN/THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE]

The 2018 Masters Tournament is heavy with anticipation of greatness about to happen.

Thanks to two-time Masters Champion Tom Watson, the Par-3 Contest “hex” – as he calls it – won’t be part of the story.

The 68-year-old Watson turned back the clock Wednesday and shot 6-under-par 21, winning by a stroke over Tommy Fleetwood and Thomas Pieters.

Playing in a threesome with fellow golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, Watson rolled in six birdies and three pars and needed all of that great play just to win his threesome.

Six-time champion 78-year-old Jack Nicklaus tied for fourth at 4 under, while 82-year-old three-time champ Player tied for 10th at 2 under.

“Old guys prevail,” said Watson, whose birdies at Nos. 7 and 8 propelled him to the win. “Look at Tiger Woods at 42 and then Phil Mickleson. What is he 47 or 48? You better watch out for the old guys this week.”

PHOTOS: Par-3 Contest moments

Watson was the top highlight of many at the annual event, in which players enjoy themselves with wives, girlfriends, kids and parents as their caddies in a precursor to Thursday’s pressure-packed opening tournament day.

Plus, Watson made sure none of the players in this year's field have to worry about the renowned Par-3 jinx.

No player winning the Par 3 has ever won the Masters in the same week.

“There is no hex since I’m not playing in the big tournament,” Watson said. “So there is no pressure there.”

Watson said he’s not about to turn Wednesday’s magic into a tee time today.

“The big course is too big for old folks like me,” Watson said. “I can’t hit it far enough.”

Watson opened with three birdies Wednesday then, instead of a nice casual afternoon of golf, focused on trying to win.

PHOTOS: Tiny Par-3 Contest Caddies

“The competitive juices did get going,” Watson said. “When I birdied the first three holes and made the putt at No. 3, I said, ‘Let’s see if I can win this thing.’"

Nicklaus was at 4-under through six holes and said he had good looks at birdie on the final three but this was Watson’s moment in the sun.

“It did get competitive but Watson kept knocking the ball in the hole,” Nicklaus said. “For the first eight holes Tom had six putts and when you do that you are going to shoot a low score. He did great. I’m proud of him for that.

“I finished fourth, not too bad for an old guy. With Gary and Tom on the leaderboard, that’s a pretty good group.”

Nicklaus’ highlight of the day wasn’t his round, but rather watching his 15-year-old grandson and caddie, G.T., ace No. 9 with a wedge shot that sent a roar across the grounds.

“My wins here are OK, but to watch your grandson make his first hole in, that’s my No. 1 memory here,” Nicklaus said. “That was just pretty neat.”

Pretty neat as well was when Justin Thomas called a young boy named Will out of the crowd to putt out for him on No. 8 and he sank it to the delight of the fans.

“The only time I came to the Masters growing up was when I was 10,” Thomas said. “It was on a Wednesday and I remember a player asking a kid to come out and putt and I was so jealous. I was like that would be the coolest thing to ever do. ... I asked two kids before Will and they said no. He didn’t want to come out at first but his dad talked him into it. He was so nervous and I was nervous for him.”

Other Wednesday highlights included holes-in-one by Dylan Frittelli and Tony Finau – though Finau's was followed by a celebration in the fairway in which he appeared to injure his ankle. Soon after, Matt Kuchar’s 10-year-old son Cameron sunk a lengthy putt on No. 9.

“It was awesome,” said Cameron who jumped in his dad’s arms after making the putt and signed a few autographs.

“That was pretty neat,” Kuchar said.

And Watson's highlight? He said forget about the win. 

“Most importantly it was fun playing with Jack and Gary,” Watson said. “We have been playing for years and years. To cap it off with G.T., Jack’s grandson, making a hole in one on the last hole, Jack crying like a baby. There could not have been a better scene in golf.”

Par-3 Contest 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 - Terry 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 - Tsuneyuki Nakajima - 24

1989 - Bob Gilder - 22*

1990 - Ray Floyd - 23

1991 - Rocco Mediate - 24*

1992 - Davis Love III - 22

1993 - Chip Beck - 21

1994 - Vijay Singh - 22

1995 - Hal Sutton - 23*

1996 - Jay Haas - 22*

1997 - Sandy Lyle - 22*

1998 - Sandy Lyle - 24

1999 - Joe Durant - 22

2000 - Chris Perry - 23*

2001 - David Toms - 22

2002 - Nick Price - 22*

2003 - Padraig Harrington and David Toms - 21**

2004 - Padraig Harrington - 23*

2005 - Jerry Pate - 22

2006 - Ben Crane - 23

2007 - Mark O'Meara - 22

2008 - Rory Sabbatini - 22

2009 - Tim Clark - 22

2010 - Louis Oosthuizen - 21

2011 - Luke Donald - 22

2012 - Padraig Harrington and Jonathan Byrd - 22**

2013 - Ted Potter Jr. - 23*

2014 - Ryan Moore - 21

2015 - Kevin Streelman - 22*

2016 - Jimmy Walker - 19

2017 - Cancelled

2018 - Tom Watson - 21

* Won in playoff

** Tied