Apr4 Masters par3

For once in his carrer Padraig Harrington is hoping he doesn’t win today as he takes part in the annual Masters Par-3 Tournament.

History suggests the winner of the contest – held on possibly the world’s best pitch and putt course – never wins the main event.

Harrington has won the Par-3 twiceher, in 2003 and 2004, and tongue in cheek said: “All wins are wins. When I got to 11 international wins I thought ‘there’s more than that, I’ll have to go and count them up.”

Brit Kenneth Ferrie has snubbed the Par-3 after being told he could not partner Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player in the event.

Ferrie had seen a gap alongside the names of the two golfing legends on the entry sheet and so wrote his name down.

But an Augusta National official collafred him on his arrival at the course this morning and told him it was not possible.

“I’m disappointed and I’m not going to bother playing in it at all now,” said Ferrie. “I understood it was an open draw and they are two of my lifelong heroes.

“It would have been one of the high points of the week for me – Gary is playing in his 50th Masters (equalling Arnold Palmer’s record) and Jack has retired from the actual tournament now.

“I’m sure it would have been a lot of fun, but the official said I was not allowed to play with them. There are hardly any spare spots left now on the drawsheet I looked at, so I’m just going to concentrate on tomorrow instead.

“It’s a shame. My wife and my caddie were set for an argument on which of them was going to carry my bag in the par three, but it’s settled that one.”

Ferrie qualified for the event with his sixth place finish in the US Open last year. He shared the lead with Phil Mickelson with a round to go there.

The par-3 competition starts here at 1pm local time.