Written by Ray Cox at The Atlanta Journal Constitution.com
It was a most unusual afternoon for Wednesday’s Par-3 tournament at Augusta (Georgia) National Golf Club.
Jimmy Walker won with a record 8-under 19. He becomes the latest to attempt to win the nine-hole grip-and-grin and then the tournament proper in the same year, a feat not previously accomplished in 79 Masters.
The other rare moment came for the threesome of Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth. Thomas and Fowler hit back-to-back hole-in-ones at No. 4. And then Spieth had to hit his tee shot.
“It might have been the hardest shot I ever had to hit trying to follow them,” Spieth said.
Fowler got in a good-natured dig at the defending Masters champ: “After two hole-in-ones, you got to man up and hit the shot. Just couldn’t do it.”
There was a Par-3 record nine aces, including one by Hall of Famer Gary Player.
“Definitely comforting,” Kisner said.
He said he’s played about six rounds at Augusta National since getting the invite. Kisner has gotten pointers on the course during rounds with Jeff Knox, 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson and even Larry Mize.
“I had a lot of guys that have won here and been around here a bunch,” Kisner said.
Scouting report: Six-time winner Jack Nicklaus on which shots at Augusta National are most worrisome: “The tee shot at 2, second shot at 11, tee shot at 12, tee shot, second shot on 13, second shot on 15. Outside of that, the rest of the golf course is not that difficult, but you’ve still got to watch out for it. As far as giving you fits and concern, second shot at 11 probably. Because it looks so inviting and you know that you really can’t be stupid and hit the ball at the hole. The wind comes across there and all of a sudden it balloons up and gets in the water pretty easy.”
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