Padraig Harrington and Jonathan Byrd win the Par 3 Contest of the Masters
Padraig Harrington and Jonathan Byrd shared the top leading position, on Wednesday April 4, in the Par 3 Contest of the Masters.
The game was shortened due to a thunderstorm and many players were unable to finish the competition. Hence, the officials declared Harrington and Byrd the joint winners of the contest.
Both of them scored 5-under 22 before the storm. Adam Scott, Webb Simpson and Jerry pate shared the third position, by scoring 4-under 23, at the Augusta National Golf Club.
Phil Mickelson and Kelly Kraft finished tied for the sixth position. They scored 3-under 24 and were two strokes behind the leaders.
Harrington, the 40-year-old Irish professional, recorded his third win at the contest. This was the second time he shared the leading position of the Par 3 Contest.
In 2003, Harrington and David Toms were the leaders. That year, again the game was halted due to a storm and officials declared both as winners.
Harrington is also a three-time major champion, but winning the title of the Masters is yet to be achieved.
Byrd, the 34-year-old American, also displayed an amazing performance and was a tough rival against Harrington. His appealing strokes and competitive scoring made him a proud winner for the first time.
Arnold Palmer also played the contest, he finished tied for the 36th position. He did not play well.
However, all the spectators loved his appearance at Augusta and he also entertained them with his amazing strokes.
"If I didn't love it, I wouldn't be sitting here," Palmer said. "The tradition and the fans have been a part of me since 1955. The Par 3, the dinner, the tee shot tomorrow. These are all special days for me".
"Playing with Arnold and Jack there, you know, it's coming to an end, and if you want to say our lives, our careers -- it's the sunset," Gary Player said on Tuesday before the Par 3 Contest tee off.
"And to be playing with them, and things come back in your mind, and being together and enjoying it with the people, it's a special time".
The Master Tournament is about to start, scheduled from April 5 to 8. The field is tough and all the high ranked players desire to win the $8,000,000 purse event.
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