The 2025 Masters got its unofficial start on Wednesday with the annual Par 3 Contest. This family-friendly event has become a rite of passage at golf’s first major and a big part of the charm at Augusta National Golf Club.
Coverage of this year’s Par 3 Contest produced some of the most endearing images, with wives and children of the world’s best golfers often stepping in as caddies. Golfers like Keegan Bradley and Brooks Koepka made the most of their time with their kids on the course. The atmosphere is unlike any in professional golf and shows these competitors in a different light ahead of the biggest tournament on the sport’s calendar.
Rickie Fowler was the event’s defending champion. This year required a playoff, between Nicolas Echavarria and J.J. Spaun, who each finished the first nine holes at -5. In the end, Nico Echavarria would emerge victorious after collecting a birdie on the second hole of the playoff, while Spaun would bogey the hole. But winner beware: No golfer who won the Par 3 contest also won The Masters in the same year.
USA TODAY Sports is tracking all the action during the 2025 Masters Par 3 contest on Wednesday at Augusta National Golf Club.
Who won the Par 3 tournament?
Nico Echavarria won the tournament. After a tremendous -5 through the first nine holes, he moved to a playoff with J.J. Spaun. Although both golfers earned a par on the first hole of the playoff, Spaun would bogey the second hole. Echavarria collected a birdie, giving him the win.
Masters Par 3 leaderboard
Here’s a look at the leaderboard during the 2025 Masters Par 3 Contest:
- T1. Nicolas Echavarria: -5 (F) – won in playoff
- T1. J.J. Spaun: -5 (F)
- 3. Tyrell Haton: -4 (F)
- T4. Bubba Watson: -3 (F)
- T4. Mark O’Meara: -3 (F)
- T4. Davis Riley: -3 (F)
- T4. Matt McCarty: -3 (F)
- T4. Louie Canter: -3 (8)
- T9. Rasmus Hojgaard: -2 (F)
- T9. Justin Rose: -2 (F)
- T9: Bryson DeChambeau: -2 (F)
Brooks Koepka scores another ace
The third of the day, and the second on Hole No. 6. Brooks Koepka followed in Keegan Bradley’s foot steps with another hole-in-one.
Masters Par 3 Contest: Tom Hoge gets another hole-in-one
Tom Hoge became the second golfer to get a hole-in-one during Wednesday’s event. He aced No. 4 by spinning his tee shot back into the cup during the Masters Par 3 Contest. Hoge’s reaction was a bit more subdued than Keegan Bradley at No. 8 earlier. Perhaps that’s because this is old hat for the 35-year-old PGA Tour veteran.
Hoge also had a hole-in-one when he won the 2023 Masters Par 3 Contest. He didn’t qualify for The Masters in 2024, so this is technically his first shot at defending his title.
New leader atop Masters Par 3 Contest leaderboard
Nicolas Echavarria has taken the outright lead at the Masters Par 3 Contest, going 4-under through his first five holes. But he has company. Bubba Watson, Mark O’Meara and Davis Riley were the leaders in the clubhouse after finishing their rounds with a score of 3-under par. There are still 19 groups left to tee off, so there’s likely to be plenty of golfers jockeying for the lead over the next few hours.
Keegan Bradley gets first Masters Par 3 Contest hole-in-one
It’s going to be hard to beat the heartwarming moment Keegan Bradley just enjoyed Wednesday at the 2025 Masters Par 3 Contest.
The 2025 United States Ryder Cup champion had the first hole-in-one of the day, sinking his tee shot on No. 8 and celebrating with his two kids serving as caddies for this pre-tournament tradition at Augusta National Golf Club.
Bradley, sporting a new look with a mustache, tossed both his children in the air and then hugged his wife as the crowd roared. His youngest son then retrieved the ball from the hole. Bradley also nearly aced No. 16 during his practice round Wednesday morning.
‘I’ll put that memory up there with anything I’ve ever done in golf,’ Bradley told ESPN a few minutes after his hole-in-one.
Bubba Watson leads Masters Par 3 contest after near ace
Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson is out to the lead at the Masters Par 3 contest, shooting 3-under after finishing his round on the nine-hole course at Augusta National. His day this year includes a near hole-in-one.
Masters chairman Fred Ridley talks pace of play, LIV Golf
What The Masters thinks on golf’s biggest issues matters because of its place among the sport’s major tournaments. So it was notable Wednesday when Masters chairman Fred Ridley became the latest official to speak out against slow play and signaled that The Masters could soon join other tournaments that are planning to enforce and implement stiffer penalties related to pace of play moving forward.
“Playing without undue delay, as the rules and the game’s traditions dictate, is an essential skill of golf at all levels. Recognizing the challenges professionals face each week, I also believe pace of play is an important element of the examination of the world’s best players,” Ridley said on Wednesday during the opening remarks of his annual Chairman’s press conference ahead of the 89th Masters. “Golf is a special game because it requires us to be considerate while also being competitive. Respecting other people’s time, including, importantly, the fans who support the game, is a fundamental courtesy. Therefore, I want to encourage continued dialogue on this topic, especially at the professional levels which serve as the most visible representation of our sport.”
Ridley said The Masters is not budging when it comes to giving out exemptions based on LIV Golf standings, like it does for the PGA Tour. The tournament can still offer a special exemption on a case-by-case basis, as it did with LIV Golf points leader Joaquin Niemann for the second year in a row in 2025.
Jordan Spieth’s son gets Masters Par 3 Contest started
The annual Masters Par 3 contest has started at Augusta National Golf Club. Angel Cabrera and Jose Maria Olazabal just teed off to get the action going and Max Homa, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas followed. Spieth might have eliminated himself from the competition when he allowed his son, Sammy, to take his first tee shot. Count that as the first wholesome moment of the day.
What time is the Masters Par 3 Contest?
The Masters Par 3 Contest from Augusta National will begin at noon ET with live coverage via streaming on Masters.com, the Masters app, ESPN+, Disney+, and Fubo, which is offering a free trial. TV coverage begins at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Where to watch Par 3 Contest at the Masters
- TV channel: ESPN (starting at 2 p.m. ET)
- Live stream: ESPN+, Disney+, and Fubo (Fubo offers a free trial subscription)
Watch the 2025 Masters from Augusta with Fubo
Masters Par 3 Contest tee times
An asterisk means that player is an amateur.
- Noon ET — Jose Maria Olazabal, Angel Cabrera
- 12:07 p.m. ET — Max Homa, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas
- 12:14 p.m. ET — Jason Day, Bubba Watson, Min Woo Lee
- 12:21 p.m. ET — Lucas Glover, Will Zalatoris, *Evan Beck
- 12:28 p.m. ET — Ian Woosnam, Larry Mize, Bernhard Langer
- 12:35 p.m. ET — Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns, Tom Kim
- 12:49 p.m. ET — Gary Player, Charl Schwartzel, Thriston Lawrence
- 12:56 p.m. ET — Tom Watson, Mark O’Meara, Nick Faldo
- 1:03 p.m. ET — Davis Riley, Austin Eckroat, Davis Thompson
- 1:10 p.m. ET — Russell Henley, Keegan Bradley, *Justin Hastings
- 1:17 p.m. ET — Billy Horschel, Kevin Yu, Nick Dunlap
- 1:24 p.m. ET — Matt McCarty, Maverick McNealy, Jhonattan Vegas
- 1:38 p.m. ET — Thomas Detry, Matthieu Pavon, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
- 1:45 p.m. ET — Nicolai Højgaard, Rasmus Højgaard, Justin Rose
- 1:52 p.m. ET — Max Greyserman, Denny McCarthy, Zach Johnson
- 1:59 p.m. ET — Akshay Bhatia, Sahith Theegala, Nicolas Echavarria
- 2:06 p.m. ET — Matt Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Åberg, Aaron Rai
- 2:13 p.m. ET — Wyndham Clark, J.J. Spaun, Cameron Young
- 2:27 p.m. ET — Ben Crenshaw, *Hiroshi Tai, *Noah Kent
- 2:34 p.m. ET — Joe Highsmith, Cameron Davis, Tom Hoge
- 2:41 p.m. ET — Sepp Straka, J.T. Poston, Chris Kirk
- 2:48 p.m. ET — Byeong Hun An, Michael Kim, Brian Campbell
- 2:55 p.m. ET — Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood
- 3:02 p.m. ET — Adam Schenk, Stephan Jaeger, Fred Couples
- 3:16 p.m. ET — Brian Harman, Patton Kizzire, Harris English
- 3:23 p.m. ET — Taylor Pendrith, Corey Conners, Nick Taylor
- 3:30 p.m. ET — Robert MacIntyre, Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland
- 3:37 p.m. ET — Rafael Campos, Tony Finau, Jon Rahm
- 3:44 p.m. ET — *Jose Luis Ballester, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed
- 3:51 p.m. ET — Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson
- 4:05 p.m. ET — Danny Willett, Laurie Canter
- 4:12 p.m. ET —Bryson DeChambeau
What is the Par 3 Contest at the Masters?
The Par 3 Contest may be a competition, but it’s a fun-filled and lighthearted affair. It unfolds on a nine-hole, par-27 course designed by George Cobb and Cliff Roberts, nestled around DeSoto Springs Pond and Ike’s Pond. The event brings together tournament participants and past winners for a single round of play, all in the spirit of enjoyment. Participants often invite their families, who add to the festive atmosphere by donning Augusta National jumpsuits.
The event also has its own superstition: the winner of the Par 3 contest has never gone on to win the Masters in the same year. As a result, some participants choose not to risk this and allow their family members, who are serving as caddies, the opportunity to chip or putt on their behalf. — Elizabeth Flores
Masters weather forecast: Latest updates for Wednesday at Augusta
According to AccuWeather, the weather for the Masters Par 3 Contest on Wednesday could be the most pleasant of the week, with temperatures expected to be in the 60s during the contest. Winds will blow in from the east at 4-8 mph, and there is no threat of rain in the forecast. — Scooby Axson
Masters predictions and picks
Mark Giannotto, USA TODAY: Collin Morikawa
‘Morikawa currently ranks second behind only (Rory) McIlroy in strokes gained tee-to-green in 2025. It’s perhaps gone under the radar because Morikawa is searching for his first win in more than 18 months and fell short again with a chance to win this year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational. But he has three top-10 finishes in five starts this season, in addition to winning the PGA Championship and British Open previously. Maybe he’s ready to prove his mettle at The Masters.’
DraftKings Network: Xander Schauffele
‘Schauffele started this season late due to a rib injury and, after looking rusty in his first two starts, came alive at the Valspar Championship … gaining an eye-popping 11.2 strokes on approach at the Copperhead Course. This number set a career-high for Schauffele … The 31-year-old is notorious for playing his best golf at major championships and Schauffele is a very intriguing early bet at this number.’
BetMGM: Ludvig Aberg
‘Aberg came extremely close to ending the Masters debutant winless run last April, ultimately settling for a runner-up finish. Illness plagued Aberg in late January through February, but a win at the Genesis should give hope to those considering backing Aberg at the Masters. That week, Aberg gained 10 strokes tee-to-green, the third-best output of his entire career.’
Masters odds and betting line
Scottie Scheffler is the favorite entering Round 1, according to BetMGM odds as of Tuesday, April 8. List for golfers at +3000 odds or better.
- Scottie Scheffler (+450)
- Rory McIlroy (+650)
- Collin Morikawa (+1400)
- Jon Rahm (+1400)
- Bryson DeChambeau (+1600)
- Ludvig Aberg (+2000)
- Justin Thomas (+2200)
- Xander Schauffele (+2200)
- Joaquin Niemann (+3000)
Masters predictions: Sleeper picks at Augusta
Experts from Golfweek and the USA TODAY Network have thoughts on longshots that could make some noise this weekend.
- Adam Schupak, Golfweek: Will Zalatoris (+5000)
- Beth Ann Nichols, Golfweek: Corey Conners (+5000)
- Cameron Jourdan, Golfweek: Corey Conners (+5000)
- David Dusek, Golfweek: Sepp Straka (+5500)
- Jason Lusk, Golfweek: Shane Lowry (+3300)
- Tim Schmitt, Golfweek: Sergio García (+6600)
- Will Cheney, Augusta Chronicle: Akshay Bhatia (+6600)
- Dan Spears, USA TODAY Network: Tom Kim (+10000)
- Todd Kelly, Golfweek: Nick Taylor (+30000)
Masters location: Where is Augusta National?
The Masters is played every year at Augusta National Golf Club, widely considered one of the top courses in the sport. Augusta National is located in Augusta, Georgia, which sits on the state’s eastern border with South Carolina.
Of the PGA Tour’s four majors, only the Masters has been played at the same course every time, with the 2025 tournament the 89th edition. — Jason Anderson