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Nico Echavarria won the Masters’ Par 3 Contest on Wednesday, which means the Colombian will be the latest to try to break an infamous curse in Augusta, Ga.

No winner of the annual Par 3 Contest, which dates back to 1960, has also won the Masters the same year. The 89th Masters gets underway Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club.

Echavarria, 30, who is making his Masters debut, said winning felt “awesome” on the ESPN telecast.

“Hopefully, we change the tradition of never winning the Par 3 Contest and the tournament itself,” Echavarria said. “We’ll see about that. Having a blast out here. This place is truly special. Being the first time and winning this, it feels just incredible.”

Echavarria had to go to the second hole of a playoff for the victory after he and J.J. Spaun were tied at 5-under-par 22 at the nine-hole track, which neighbors the tournament championship course.

They each made par on the first playoff hole, No. 9, then Echavarria carded a birdie in a return to the ninth hole to collect the crystal prize.

Echavarria has two career wins on the PGA Tour — the 2023 Puerto Rico Open and the 2024 Zozo Championship. He has made six cuts in 10 events this season, with his best finish second place when he lost in a playoff to Nick Taylor at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January. He is 48th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

The tension-free atmosphere of Wednesday’s event is a counterpoint in advance of the major set for the following four days. Players traditionally bring along family and friends as caddies and encourage them to take their shots, especially putts at the No. 9 finishing hole. Such substitutions do take the player out of the running with no score, but that’s not the point on this day.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, one of the PGA Tour’s stars, handed his putter to young daughter Poppy, who sank an estimated 30-foot putt to thrill her father, his playing partners and the patrons in attendance.

Aces were recorded by Keegan Bradley at No. 6, Tom Hoge at No. 4; and Brooks Koepka on No. 6.

“It was up there with my favorite moments of my golf career, maybe even my life,” Bradley said. “It was really fun to be there with my family. It was special. I’ll never forget that ever.”

Hoge won the Par 3 Contest with a 6 under in 2023. He said the ace on Wednesday was “cool.”

“I made one a couple years ago, but just trying to appreciate these moments,” Hoge said. “I missed last year here, so it’s cool to be back.”

–Field Level Media