Augusta National reduces invitee list for annual Par-3 Contest

There will be fewer contestants in this year’s Masters Par-3 Contest, as Augusta National Golf Club is reducing the number of players invited to compete in the Wednesday tradition on the club’s short course.

In previous year, all Masters contestants for the current year were eligible to play, as were past major winners and past U.S. Amateur champions. Moving forward, only current-year Masters invitees and all past green jacket winners will be invited to play in the Par-3 Contest. Those former Par-3 Contest invitees were also afforded the privilege of playing practice rounds on the 18-hole Masters course — an opportunity that has also been rescinded.

In a letter to players no longer invited to compete in the Par-3 Contest, Augusta National said increased interest in the Par-3 Contest precipitated the change.

“As a person and an honorary invitee, I’m disappointed because it was my favorite day of the year,” former Open champion Ian Baker-Finch said to ESPN. “I loved it. I’ll still be there, though, and I’ll watch like everyone else.”

The event has turned into a family affair of sorts, with players asking friends and family, including their children, to serve as caddies, donning the Augusta National white jumpsuit.

Major champions will continue to receive unparalleled treatment at the Masters, including two clubhouse badges for the week, a $ 1,000 honorarium and a special gift for attending.

The Par-3 Course was built in 1958, and Sam Snead won the first Par-3 Contest in 1960. ESPN began televising the event in 2008. No player who has won the Par-3 Contest on Wednesday has gone on to win the green jacket that next Sunday.

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