Action at the 90th Masters unofficially kicked off Wednesday with one of the great side traditions within the tradition unlike any other. The day before the day always brings a welcome reprieve from the stress and pressure of the first major championship of the season, as players get to decompress with family and friends at the Masters Par 3 Contest.

Active players and legendary past champions visit the par-3 course at Augusta National Golf Club for one of the most unique events on the entire golf calendar. As always, we were treated to aces, adorable children running around in white caddie jumpsuits and generally great vibes as players enjoyed one of the special privileges of playing at the Masters.

This year, there were four holes-in-one, eclipsing last year’s total by one, as Justin Thomas (No. 2), Wyndham Clark (No. 7), Keegan Bradley (No. 8) and Tommy Fleetwood (No. 4) all earned crystal with aces on Wednesday. Bradley’s hole-in-one made him the first player to score 1s in back-to-back years at the Par 3, while Fleetwood’s sent his group with Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry into a frenzy. 

As Thomas made clear with his celebration directed at Jordan Spieth and Max Homa, they also picked up a little cash from their playing partners on top of the crystal from the club. 

Unlike what is ahead beginning Thursday, competition at the Par 3 Contest is secondary to everything else. Most of the top players disqualify themselves by letting their significant other or child hit shots or attempt putts to avoid posting a score. That included Fleetwood, whose son Frankie became the breakout star in 2025 and he took his second crack at hitting driver across the pond on the 9th, nearly reaching dry land this time around. 

Some consider winning the Par 3 Contest as a curse of sorts, as no player has ever stood victorious at the end and ultimately won the green jacket that week since the event was introduced in 1960. This year’s contest featured a surprising yet hotly contested race for the top spot with several low scores posted. 

Ultimately, it was Aaron Rai, scoring birdie in his final four holes of the day to post 6 under, who took home the victory over two Masters first-timers, Jacob Bridgeman and John Keefer, who shot 5 under.Â