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Echavarria Triumphs in The Masters Par-3 Contest
Nico Echavarria emerged victorious in a thrilling play-off at The Masters Par-3 contest held at Augusta National, setting the stage for the first major tournament of the year. His outstanding performance was complemented by notable participation from players such as Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler.
Echavarria and JJ Spaun both displayed impressive skills, finishing their rounds with five birdies each, resulting in bogey-free scores of 22. They topped the leaderboard during the event, which is traditionally held on the Wednesday before The Masters. In the play-off, both players managed to par the first extra hole before returning to the ninth for a decisive conclusion.
This year’s contest marked Echavarria’s debut at Augusta National, and he expressed his hopes of making history by being the first golfer to win both the Par-3 Contest and The Masters in the same week. The event was also memorable for the remarkable holes-in-one achieved by three players, adding to the excitement.
“It feels awesome,” Echavarria remarked. “Hopefully, we change the tradition! We’ll see about that, but we had a blast out there. It feels incredible.”
Among the other highlights, 2023 Par-3 champion Tom Hoge recorded an ace on the fourth hole. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, alongside Brooks Koepka, also made a memorable hole-in-one on the sixth hole, celebrating enthusiastically with their families.
Tyrrell Hatton from England finished just a shot behind the leaders, securing third place, while prominent former Masters champions, including Bubba Watson and Mark O’Meara, were tied for fourth alongside Davis Riley, Matt McCarty, and Laurie Canter. Justin Rose and Rasmus Hojgaard recorded two-under 25s, ensuring their spots within the top ten, and Sir Nick Faldo also made the cut with a one under score.
Notably, only 20 players posted official scores, as many opted to let family members participate and take shots on their behalf. McIlroy played the course with his daughter Poppy, who delighted the crowd with a remarkable long-range putt on the ninth hole, while Tommy Fleetwood’s son Frankie provided light-hearted entertainment during an interview.
Looking Ahead to The Masters
As the focus shifts to the tournament itself, attention is on Scheffler, who is vying to be the first player to win consecutive Masters titles since Tiger Woods. Meanwhile, McIlroy is presented with another chance to achieve the career Grand Slam.
When to Watch The Masters Live
Sky Sports Golf will deliver extensive live coverage throughout the 2025 Masters, beginning at 2 PM on Thursday, providing updates and insights as the event unfolds. The coverage will continue with featured groups and updates until the global broadcast starts at 8 PM.
The same schedule applies for Friday, with the weekend offering a special build-up show live from 3 PM, leading into full coverage from 5 PM, ensuring fans don’t miss any of the action until play concludes.
For those following from home, Sky+, Sky Q, and Sky Glass will feature additional viewing options, giving audiences the chance to track players as they navigate iconic sections of Augusta, including Amen Corner.
Who will take home the coveted Green Jacket? Tune in all week to find out live on Sky Sports, with the opening round coverage starting at 2 PM on Sky Sports Golf. For more coverage, explore options on Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW.
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www.skysports.com