Echavarría Wins Masters Par-Three Contest, Eyes Rare Double at Augusta

Posted : 10 April 2025

Nicolás Echavarría of Colombia claimed victory in the Masters Par-Three Contest by defeating American J.J. Spaun in a playoff, just a day before the prestigious Masters tournament begins. Echavarría, who qualified for the Masters after winning the Zozo Championship in Japan last year, birdied the second extra hole while Spaun made bogey to seal the win.

Although the contest is a cherished tradition, it carries a superstition—no winner of the Par-Three has gone on to win the green jacket in the same year. Undeterred, Echavarría expressed hope that he might be the first to break that trend.

Both players had finished with five-under-par scores of 22 on the special nine-hole, 1,090-yard layout at Augusta National, prompting the playoff. The sudden-death contest took place on the 135-yard ninth hole, where they each made par on the first try.

On the second attempt, Echavarría clinched the win with a birdie. “It feels incredible,” he said. “Hopefully we change the tradition of never winning both the Par-Three and the Masters.” The relaxed event, held annually since 1960, is known for its festive atmosphere, in contrast to the high-stakes competition of the main tournament.

This year’s Par-Three Contest featured several memorable moments, including a hole-in-one by Keegan Bradley on the sixth hole. Bradley, who embraced his children immediately after, described it as one of the most unforgettable moments of his life.

Brooks Koepka also made an ace on the same hole while accompanied by his one-year-old son Crew. Tom Hoge added to the excitement with a hole-in-one at the fourth hole, marking his second in the Par-Three Contest. The tradition of awarding a crystal vase for aces and a crystal bowl for the contest winner continued, with three total aces recorded this year.

Rory McIlroy, still chasing his first Masters title to complete a career Grand Slam, participated in the contest with his four-year-old daughter Poppy acting as his caddie. Reflecting on the event's relaxed tone, McIlroy said the family-focused environment offers a meaningful balance to the intense competition ahead.

“It’s nice to have this. It means more when you have a family,” he shared. Despite skipping practice for this playful event, McIlroy remained confident: “If you’re not ready by now, you don’t really have a chance.”

Echavarría Wins Masters Par-Three Contest, Eyes Rare Double at Augusta

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