Tim Clark hit a hole-in-one on his way to winning the par-three competition at Augusta yesterday (April 8th).
The South African completed the nine-hole course in 22 to beat Jose Maria Olazabal and Jack Newman by two strokes, although his victory is traditionally regarded as a bad omen for a player''s Masters prospects.
This is because no winner of the par-three has ever gone on to win the green jacket since the event was added to the build-up in 1960, but Clark was quick to challenge the idea of a ''par-three curse''.
"I''m not really superstitious. Obviously I''m doing something right this week. Why can''t it carry over?" he told AFP afterwards.
Clark, who beat Tiger Woods in the second round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in February, is the second South African to win the par-three contest in as many years, with Rory Sabbatini triumphing in 2008.
Greg Norman and John Merrick also recorded holes-in-one during the event, while 73-year-old Gary Player holed his second tee shot at the ninth after finding the water at the first attempt.
09/04/2009