AUGUSTA, Ga. — One of the most well-known streaks in Masters history appears safe for another year.
No player that has won the traditional par-3 contest of Masters week has gone on to win the tournament. Louis Oosthuizen won this year’s par 3 contest Wednesday at Augusta National Golf Club, shooting a 6-under 21 in the nine-hole event.
Yes, that Louis Oosthuizen, who missed the cut last year in his first Masters appearance and inched into the field by sneaking into the top 50 in the world rankings by winning the Andalucian Open earlier this year.
The players are aware of the streak.
“If I win,” Masters rookie Matteo Manassero said before finishing in a group tied for second at 4 under, “it matters.”
Perfect practice
The Masters course did not go through any major changes since last year, and the layout remains a 7,435-yard, par-72 test.
But the grounds are certainly different.
The main front parking lot that was gravel has been transformed into a state-of-the-art practice facility. Almost all of the parking for the tournament is now outside the grounds.
The new practice area combines the driving range, which used to be in front of the clubhouse, and the chipping and putting areas, which were stationed around the clubhouse.
The old driving range, which measured 260 yards and featured a 105-foot-tall net to keep balls off Washington Road, will now be used by the club members.
The new driving range measures 400-yards and features slots for as many as 70 players, seats for 500 fans and almost 2,000 newly installed plants — including dozens of mature trees.
Another comeback
There is one notable return to golf that everyone will follow this week. Tiger Woods’ comeback, though, has nothing on David Duval’s.
Duval, the former Georgia Tech star, was supposed to be Woods’ arch nemesis, even surging to No. 1 in the world in 1998. But Duval struggled with injuries and a lack of confidence to the point that he fell off the golf map soon after winning the 2001 British Open.
“Work — hard work,” Duval said when asked about his return.
Duval, who got into this week’s field by finishing tied for second at the U.S. Open, has played in only two Masters since 2003 after finishing no worse than tied for sixth from 1998-2001.
“As professionals, rarely are we happy with what we are doing on a weekly basis, but I am,” he said. “As I sit here, I am really comfortable with how I’m swinging the club.”
Weather or not
It wouldn’t be the Masters without some weather worries. And it appears this year will not be any different.
Today’s forecast in Augusta calls for an increasing chance of afternoon showers with possible thunderstorms in the evening, according to the National Weather Service. Plus winds are expected to gust up to 25 miles per hour.
The rest of the tournament appears clear, with some Friday winds — gusting up to 20 mph — and Chamber of Commerce days Saturday and Sunday.
Look for updates from today’s first round throughout the day at the Chattanooga Times Free Press Web site.
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