At times, a spiral of hurdles forms unbeaten records. Like, no golfer has won The Masters in their debut appearance since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979. Similarly, there’s one peculiar tradition at Augusta National that might just be a curse in disguise. In a more peculiar scenario, many golfers have suffered crushing defeats on Father’s Day weekend, making this an emotional, really tough major for many.

Additionally, no golfer has won the Masters qualifier to win the big league itself. There are obstacles all over, with Holes above 10 being tricky. Redbud and Amen Corner are some that quickly come to mind. Then, there’s Firethorn (Hole 15), which led Sergio to lose 5 balls in the water during the 2018 Masters Tournament. But aren’t we talking about a different type of curse? So, what is it?

It’s the Par 3 Contest – a fun, light-hearted prelude to the intensity of the Masters. And yet, despite the joy it brings, history suggests that winning the Par 3 Contest is the last thing any player wants if they’re hoping for success on the main stage. Since its inception in 1960, the Par 3 Contest has been a charming, family-oriented event that brings out the lighter side of golf. Played on a separate nine-hole course at Augusta National, it’s a celebration of fun and skill, with holes ranging from 90 to 155 yards. Jimmy Walker set the course record in 2016, firing an impressive 19 under par, including a hole-in-one on the 2nd hole. It’s the perfect warm-up for Masters week—or so you’d think.

Though in its history, no one has ever won the Par 3 Contest and the Masters in the same week. This oddity has formed the “Par 3 Curse,” a superstition that golfers take seriously. Only two players have ever won the Par 3 Contest and later won the Masters — and one of them, Ben Crenshaw, was already a Masters champion when he triumphed in 1987. The only other player? Vijay Singh, who won the Par 3 Contest in 1994 and claimed his first Green Jacket in 2000.

Some greats have come close but have fallen short. Raymond Floyd, the 1976 Masters champion, won the Par 3 Contest in 1990 and looked poised to shatter the curse, holding a four-shot lead with six holes left in the Masters. But as golf often does, it threw a curveball. Nick Faldo mounted a late charge, eventually beating Floyd in a playoff and becoming the second player in history to win back-to-back Masters.

Recent years have only bolstered the curse’s legend. Rickie Fowler won the Par 3 Contest in 2024, yet finished T30 at the Masters. The year before, Tom Hoge took the title, only to miss the cut when the Masters officially began. And it doesn’t stop there—in 2019, Matt Wallace claimed victory in the Par 3 Contest but failed to make the weekend cut at the Masters. It’s so real that some players go out of their way to avoid posting a score. A few opt to have a caddie or family member hit the shots, officially disqualifying them from the contest while allowing them to participate in the fun without the ominous baggage of victory.

The 2025 par 3 contest: Who’s leading now?

Until now, the course has witnessed 112 holes-in-one in the contest. Marching ahead, the Par 3 Contest is already heating up. With a little bit of superstition in the air, Nicolas Echavarria and J.J. Spaun are tied for the lead at five under. Meanwhile, reigning Masters champion Jon Rahm shared his admiration for the tradition. “It’s one of the cooler things we do in professional sports,” Rahm said, praising the opportunity to share the moment with his family before the intensity of the tournament kicks in. His young son, however, was more interested in kicking the golf ball.

For some players, like Bryson DeChambeau, Augusta National continues to be a mystery. After struggling in previous years, he showed some signs of life in 2024, including a stellar opening round of 65. But history suggests that the Par 3 Contest win may not be what it seems.

With the 2025 Masters already kicked off, the question remains: Will anyone break the Par 3 Curse? Currently, Bubba Watson is leading the Masters Par 3 contest after a close ace. As more golfers embrace the quirky tradition, some might dodge it altogether to avoid tempting fate. Others will risk the “kiss of death” in pursuit of some early glory. Will we see someone finally defy the odds? We’ll have to wait and see.

Until then, the curse remains a captivating mystery — one of the many fascinating tales that make Augusta National so much more than just a golf course.