Par 3 romp at Augusta broadcast to the masses for first timeBy PAUL NEWBERRY,
While last year’s Masters Tournament runner-up, Rory Sabbatini of South Africa was the 2008 Par 3 Contest winner with a five-under score of 22, the day was mainly dedicated to player-Patron interaction and excellent short course golf over the 1,060-yard layout.
“It was neat for them to see players can have fun out here,” said Justin Leonard. “We’re real people with real families and it was great to show that on TV and in person.”
Leonard celebrated his return to the Masters after a two-year absence with his oldest daughter, Reese, caddying for him complete with white jumpsuit.
“It’s scratchy,” was her report of her new uniform, but later she celebrated with a cherry topped icy drink at the clubhouse along with her brother and sister.
“It’s a very fun day,” Leonard said
Sabbatini called his victory an, “honor and pleasure,” after receiving the trophy on the 9th green.
For Canada’s Stephen Ames, the annual Par 3 Contest is a return to a tradition he started in his first Masters Tournament in 2003.
Growing up in the tiny Caribbean island of Trinidad, Ames had never seen a Par 3 course and had never played one until his first Masters appearance.
“It was great,” he recalled of that 2003 appearance. “The first one I ever played. I loved it.”
The highlight for the players and the Patrons was the reunion of golf’s Big 3, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player
“Oh, lot’s of fun,” Player said of the nine holes of standing ovations players received from the appreciative Patrons.
The highlight for the threesome came early as Palmer hit his first shot on the first hole to 22.5 inches, the best shot on the opening hole for the day. Nicklaus spun his tee shot back on the par 3 ninth hole to within a few feet of the hole and then joined his playing partners in signing autographs around the ninth green.
The relaxed atmosphere of the Par 3 Contest before the Masters begins Thursday is what keeps 13 year Patron Todd Hickingbotham coming back every year.
“The relaxed atmosphere is just great. They are laughing, joking and having fun before Thursday’s play,” he said.
He said seeing the Masters legends are what make the Wednesday special.
“It’s just a great opportunity to see the legends one more time,” Hickingbotham said. “These guys have made Augusta and the Masters what it is and what makes it special every year.”
Steve Stricker, who may be one of the favorites in this year’s Tournament, said he was glad to have the break before the competition.
“You try not to over do it on the last day,” Stricker said. “Just play nine holes in the morning and do the Par 3.”
Two-time Par 3 Contest winner Padraig Harrington, the reigning British Open champion, turned in his fourth top 10 finish. He said there was nothing to the Par 3 Contest jinx, where a winner at the short course has never won the 72-hole Tournament in the same year.
“I want to be the first to win both in the same year. It can be done and will be done,” he said.
Sabbatini will test that theory starting Thursday, but the memories and fun will last at least for another year until the Par 3 Contest convenes again.
“It was neat for them to see players can have fun out here,” said Justin Leonard. “We’re real people with real families and it was great to show that on TV and in person.”
Leonard celebrated his return to the Masters after a two-year absence with his oldest daughter, Reese, caddying for him complete with white jumpsuit.
“It’s scratchy,” was her report of her new uniform, but later she celebrated with a cherry topped icy drink at the clubhouse along with her brother and sister.
“It’s a very fun day,” Leonard said
Sabbatini called his victory an, “honor and pleasure,” after receiving the trophy on the 9th green.
For Canada’s Stephen Ames, the annual Par 3 Contest is a return to a tradition he started in his first Masters Tournament in 2003.
Growing up in the tiny Caribbean island of Trinidad, Ames had never seen a Par 3 course and had never played one until his first Masters appearance.
“It was great,” he recalled of that 2003 appearance. “The first one I ever played. I loved it.”
The highlight for the players and the Patrons was the reunion of golf’s Big 3, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player
“Oh, lot’s of fun,” Player said of the nine holes of standing ovations players received from the appreciative Patrons.
The highlight for the threesome came early as Palmer hit his first shot on the first hole to 22.5 inches, the best shot on the opening hole for the day. Nicklaus spun his tee shot back on the par 3 ninth hole to within a few feet of the hole and then joined his playing partners in signing autographs around the ninth green.
The relaxed atmosphere of the Par 3 Contest before the Masters begins Thursday is what keeps 13 year Patron Todd Hickingbotham coming back every year.
“The relaxed atmosphere is just great. They are laughing, joking and having fun before Thursday’s play,” he said.
He said seeing the Masters legends are what make the Wednesday special.
“It’s just a great opportunity to see the legends one more time,” Hickingbotham said. “These guys have made Augusta and the Masters what it is and what makes it special every year.”
Steve Stricker, who may be one of the favorites in this year’s Tournament, said he was glad to have the break before the competition.
“You try not to over do it on the last day,” Stricker said. “Just play nine holes in the morning and do the Par 3.”
Two-time Par 3 Contest winner Padraig Harrington, the reigning British Open champion, turned in his fourth top 10 finish. He said there was nothing to the Par 3 Contest jinx, where a winner at the short course has never won the 72-hole Tournament in the same year.
“I want to be the first to win both in the same year. It can be done and will be done,” he said.
Sabbatini will test that theory starting Thursday, but the memories and fun will last at least for another year until the Par 3 Contest convenes again.
SOME MIND JAZZ THOUGHTS ON THIS STORY
First thing is I can't believe this event was televised on ESPN and I didn't know about it.....and I watch sporting events on ESPN....and then again doesn't Disney own ESPN?
THE LACK OF ADVERTISING FOR THIS PAR 3 EVENT WAS AMAZING.....or maybe I'm the only golfer in the world who didn't know it was on and that makes me the stupidest golfer in the world and I'm OK with that.
Looking at pictures of the event... two things are duly noted that rarely exist during a regular tour event....
SMILES and LAUGHTER.
It's a fun event and it's a relaxed event and
Tiger hasn't played the 3 par tournament.....since 2004 because of the raucous atmosphere.......
come on Tiger......chill dude.....relax baby......take it easy big guy....
When your daughter can walk the course with you....YOU WILL PLAY THE 3 PAR AND YOU WILL HAVE FUN...
....and hopefully by then I'll figure out how to watch television....after all the technology has only been around since 1950....it's funny to think that my father was 28 before he saw his first television......wow.
Just imagine someone in today's world not seeing a television until the age of 28.....
There are so many good and bad things about that idea that it deserves it's own article...
Today's' article is about the MASTERS....
EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE GAME OF GOLF...THIS IS A TOURNAMENT THAT SHOULD BE WATCHED....
THE AUGUSTA NATIONAL GOLF COURSE HAS SO MANY HISTORICAL TANGENTS....AND NOT ALL OF THEM ARE CONSIDERED HONORABLE...BUT IT HAS BEEN ABLE TO WEATHER ALL FORMS OF PROTEST AND COMPLAINTS, AND TO THIS DAY REMAINS THE PREMIUM GOLFING EVENT IN THE WORLD.
THE DECISION TO TELEVISE THE PAR THREE TOURNAMENT AND TO ALLOW THE AVERAGE FAN ACCESS TO THE LIGHTER SIDE OF THE PROFESSIONAL GOLFER'S NATURE WILL ONLY ADD TO THE LEGENDARY STATUS OF THE MATCH.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I CAN'T GO ON LINE RIGHT NOW AND WATCH THAT EVENT......
DISNEY (ABC)IS DROPPING THE BALL....IF IT WAS GE (NBC) I COULD WATCH IT
AM I MISSING SOMETHING HERE?
IS GENERAL ELECTRIC MORE FAN FRIENDLY THAN DISNEY?
Or are they just smarter and bigger?
Or then again...there's always the possibility that I don't know how to locate where ESPN offers replays of previous shows....which is really possible since I didn't even know it was being televised......
Please note that I was 4 years old before I saw my first Television....so I'm still a little new to the technology.
AND THE TRUTH IS.....IF TIGER IS IN THE HUNT ON SUNDAY.....YOU WILL BE WATCHING.... EVEN IF YOU HATE GOLF AND YOU HATE GREEN AND YOU HATE TELEVISION AND YOU HATE SUNDAY AND YOU HATE AMERICA AND YOU HATE YOUR DOG......some how the ratings increase by huge numbers when Tiger is on the leaderboard.....and I've yet to understand that because people who don't like golf like to watch Tiger. It's not like he's breaking into a song and dance routine...
It's a weird phenomenon.....
If you love golf and you are anything like me....then you are already pissed that you didn't know they televised yesterdays' fun PAR 3 and the weekend's already ruined....
Oh well....I'll try to rebound and settle down......I'll use the same technique that I employ after three putting.....
Breathe......breathe.....relax......new hole.........sometimes it works.....and then sometimes things just get worst.....and then they suddenly get better.
The worst part of playing golf is putting the clubs in the car.....
...knowing that you are finished for the day.
I hate that feeling and it doesn't go away until the next time I pull the clubs out of the car.
Golf courses and Outfields at Major League Ballparks are unique.....it's a green grass dealio........and since they won't let me romp around Ceneterfield my only hope is teeing off from time to time at courses that have nothing in common with Augusta National except for flags in the cups and the integrity of the game....
and after everything is said and done.....
that's good
enough for me.
Michael Timothy McAlevey
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1 comment:
Remember those non-televised years, moving away from home, livinglivingliving - no tv no time, no tv lots of time. For me it was 1968-1982 NOTV era and then someone thought my children should be watching Sesame Street, the end of an era. Lots of records, I remember you (and a lot of other people) hated John Denver and H and I always had an album or two around. We were never cool and that's always been one of my favorite things about us. I'm mixing my metaphors or crunching my conundrums. It's sunny outside, first time all winter I'm giddy.xoS
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