Every year, the Wednesday before the Masters Tournament begins, Augusta National plays host to one of golf’s most cherished traditions: the Par 3 Contest. In 2026, that means Wednesday, April 8 — the day before the 90th Masters gets underway — will see players, their families, and their caddies take to the famous Par 3 Course in what is simultaneously the most relaxed and most anticipated event of Masters week.
If you’ve never watched the Par 3 Contest, you’re missing one of golf’s great spectacles. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 edition.
What Is the Masters Par 3 Contest?
The Par 3 Contest is a nine-hole competition played on Augusta National’s dedicated Par 3 Course — a separate, shorter layout from the main championship course, nestled in the trees near the 9th and 10th holes of the main course. The course features nine par-3 holes, with yardages that top out around 140 yards. It’s not designed to challenge the world’s best players in terms of difficulty — it’s designed to delight them, and more importantly, their families.
The real magic of the Par 3 Contest lies in who caddies for the players. Children, spouses, siblings, and friends replace the regular caddies on the bag. It is not unusual to see a three-year-old tottering around in an oversized white Augusta caddie jumpsuit while their father lines up a putt. It’s the most human you’ll ever see professional golfers — relaxed, laughing, and genuinely enjoying themselves in a setting where the result doesn’t matter at all.
The Famous Par 3 Contest “Curse”
Here’s the most fascinating thing about the Par 3 Contest: in the 62-year history of the event, no player who has won the Par 3 Contest has gone on to win the Masters in the same year. Not once. It’s one of golf’s most enduring superstitions, and while it’s almost certainly coincidence, it’s impossible not to factor it in when watching the leaderboard on Wednesday.
The “curse” has taken on a life of its own to the point where some players openly avoid winning. You’ll regularly see top professionals deliberately miss short putts on the final hole to avoid the title. Others embrace it and make the most of the fun, figuring any mental energy spent on Augusta National’s Par 3 Course is well worth the family memories it creates.
In 2019, playing in his final Masters, Tiger Woods delighted spectators by having his children Charlie and Sam caddie for him — before making a hole-in-one at the 6th hole with his son on the bag. Moments like that define why the Par 3 Contest has become as beloved as any shot in the main tournament.
The Par 3 Course at Augusta National
The Par 3 Course was designed by Clifford Roberts and George Cobb and debuted in 1960. It runs along the eastern edge of the property and features manicured short holes that play between 70 and 140 yards. The course itself is gorgeous — immaculate in the way that only Augusta can be — with ponds, fountains, and flowering trees framing each tee and green.
What makes the Par 3 Course genuinely challenging despite its modest yardages is the quality of the putting surfaces. The greens are maintained to the same exacting standards as the main course, meaning that distance control and feel are still required even from these short distances. Players who have never won the actual Masters have walked away from the Par 3 Course having made multiple birdies, holes-in-one, and memories that last a lifetime.
Holes-in-one are surprisingly common. There have been more than 100 aces recorded in the Par 3 Contest’s history — partly because of the short yardages and partly because the event draws out the very best players in the world. For those watching on the Masters app or broadcast, the Par 3 Course camera angles are superb, and the reaction when an ace drops is unmatched in golf.
What to Watch For in 2026
The 2026 Masters arrives at an unusually compelling moment for the game. This is the first Masters where the full strength of both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf are competing together — including Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, and other LIV stars who have been absent from the Augusta National main draw due to previous qualification restrictions. The Par 3 Contest will likely see all of these players participate alongside the PGA Tour contingent, making the Wednesday event a preview of personalities who will go head-to-head on the main stage Thursday through Sunday.
Watch for defending champion Rory McIlroy, who completed his career Grand Slam last year in one of the most dramatic finals in Masters history. McIlroy is navigating a back injury heading into this week, and the relaxed atmosphere of the Par 3 Contest may offer the first glimpse of how his movement looks before competitive play begins.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler enters as the clear favorite for the main event — and will likely be surrounded by family and fans on Wednesday. Scheffler’s warm, grounded demeanor makes him a popular figure at the Par 3 Contest, where the competitive edge softens and genuine personality shines through.
For first-time Masters participants — and 2026 has a notably strong crop of rookies — the Par 3 Contest also serves as a rare opportunity to get feet on the ground at Augusta before Thursday’s nerves kick in. Our guide to the 2026 Masters rookies and debutants covers who these first-timers are and why they’re worth watching.
Schedule and How to Watch
The 2026 Par 3 Contest takes place on Wednesday, April 8, with television coverage on ESPN from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. It’s one of the most leisurely and enjoyable two hours in the entire golf calendar — no pressure, no cut, no prize money. Just the world’s best golfers in one of the world’s most beautiful places, sharing it with the people they love.
For the full broadcast schedule across all rounds, see our complete Masters 2026 viewing guide, which covers every TV channel and streaming option for the entire week. And for those wanting to understand the course itself before Thursday’s first round, our hole-by-hole guide to Augusta National is essential reading.
Why the Par 3 Contest Matters Beyond the Entertainment
There’s an argument that the Par 3 Contest serves a deeper purpose than pure entertainment. For Augusta National and the Masters, it represents everything the tournament has traditionally stood for: excellence pursued not just in competition, but in the enjoyment of the game itself. Golf at its purest is a game that unites generations, and few events demonstrate that as powerfully as watching a Masters champion help his five-year-old line up a birdie putt on the Par 3 Course.
In a year when the Masters is carrying particular weight — as golf’s first genuine reunion event between PGA Tour and LIV Golf players — the Par 3 Contest also serves as a reminder that beyond the politics and the business, these are individuals who love playing golf. Whatever the broader narrative says about the fractured state of professional golf, Wednesday at Augusta has a way of putting things back in perspective.
After the Par 3 Contest, the serious business begins. Our Masters 2026 complete guide and our Masters odds and contenders analysis will help you follow every shot from Thursday onward.
