Donald in for support despite curse of the Par 3 champion
Published:As Luke Donald lined up his tee shot on the Par 3 18th yesterday, you can guarantee that thoughts of putting the ball in the water entered his mind.
Many call it a mythical jinx but in 51 Masters events no Par 3 winner has ever gone on to win the Masters, and Donald can be scratched off shortlists as the search continues for the Masters champion.
Donald won the Par 3 competition by one stroke and the world number four has been heavily supported into 25/1 to win the first Major of the golf season despite the curse hanging over his head.
“Someone’s going to break that record and hopefully it will be me,” says Donald. “No one thought that 63 (at Augusta National) might be possible until Nick Price did it.”
Former Masters winners Angel Cabrera and Raymond Floyd finished a shot off Donald back in second and while the Par 3 is always referred to as a bit of fun, it’s always nice to see your pick hitting the ball cleanly.
Phil Mickelson finished ninth, three shots off the lead, and the 7/1 favourite in the Masters betting continues to look in imperious form as he searches for his fourth green jacket.
Tiger Woods played no part in the par three tournament and remains at 12/1 to win the Masters, but arguably the most intriguing aspect of the Par 3 tournaments was the performance of the three amateurs Peter Uihlein, Jin Jeong and Lion Kim.
Uihlein finished T4, two shots off Donald, and is the 11/8 favourite to pick up the silver medal.
But Jeong finished tied with Kim in 18th, five shots off Donald, and Jeong offers all the value in the top Masters amateur betting considering he’s the reigning Open silver medallist and outsider at 7/1.
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