Rory McIlroy’s four-year-old daughter, Poppy, sank a monster putt in the Par Three Tournament to delight the Augusta crowd on the eve of the 89th Masters.
The Northern Irishman helped his daughter make the long birdie putt on the final hole in the family-friendly pre-Masters event, describing the moment as “very cool”.
“It’s just such a fun afternoon,” added McIlroy. “Being out there with Shane [Lowry] and Tommy [Fleetwood] and their families. We’re all very, very close, so to have the kids out there and them having fun is the most important thing.”
“It’s a really nice way to end the preparation going into what is the serious part of the week. So it’s nice to be able to get out here and do this,” added McIlroy, who is seeking his first green jacket to finally complete a career grand slam of majors.
“We’re waiting nine months from the last major so to end your preparations with such a fun afternoon is great,” said the 35-year-old. “If you’re not ready by now, you don’t have a chance. Let’s have fun, go home, have dinner and rest and relax for Thursday.”
Other wholesome moments in the traditional curtain-raiser included Jordan Spieth, the 2015 champion, telling his young daughter Sophie not to eat the grass. Spieth was also accompanied by his wife, Annie, who caddied for him as he played alongside Max Homa whose two-year-old son, Cam, also took part in an all-white caddy outfit.
Homa had asked his compatriot, Wyndham Clark, to bring a children’s putter to Georgia as he didn’t have room in his luggage. “I felt like I was carrying the most important thing ever,” Clark told ESPN+ after delivering the club. Jon Rahm’s son, Kepa, took a more direct approach – almost kicking the ball in from 30 feet.
Nico Echavarria won the Par Three Tournament, beating the American JJ Spaun on the second hole of their playoff. It may not help the Colombian’s chances this weekend – since it began in 1960, nobody has won the Par Three and then gone on to win the Masters on Sunday. It was also another painful playoff loss for Spaun, after he lost to McIlroy at last month’s Players Championship.
The US Ryder Cup captain, Keegan Bradley, and five-time major winner Brooks Koepka both made holes-in-one on the sixth, with fellow American Tom Hoge recording an ace on the fourth. Gary Player, the tree-time former champion, who is now 89, also delighted fans by dancing on the first Par Three hole at Augusta.
