Augusta, Ga. — Three-year-old Sammy Spieth hit a better tee shot, shot to his standards, than they played by Justin Thomas and Max Homa in the second hole of the par-3 contest at the Masters. He lifted the driver, grabbed it across it, sending the ball about 30 yards down from the middle.
Sammy’s dad, 2015 Masters champion Jordan Spieth, didn’t bother to tee off. He was enough to manage with all the caddies’ teams (all wearing White Augusta National Coveralls), including Sammy, 1-year-old daughter, Sophie and wife Annie, who are hoping for a third child in July.
The record book shows Masters rookie Nikoyechavaraya won the event on Wednesday, beating JJ Spurun in the second playoff hole after a second shot on each Route 22.
Gary players certainly do. The oldest living Masters champion at 89 years old, delivered three straight birdies (flapping with aces of 6 and 7) to the leaderboard, despite not posting an official score in the end.
The same can be said for 70 players in a 90-person field. That trend will likely continue unless the quiet winner of Augusta National can score a green jacket on a 1,090-yard par-3 course. The contest began in 1960 and no one won it and Masters that same year.
“I wasn’t really buying too many Jinxes, but I don’t think I’ve put a card in either,” Thomas said.
Rory McIlroy is joined by his wife, Erika, and his four-year-old daughter, Poppy. Poppy stopped a birdie putt in the ninth hole when he fine-tuned the ball with his father’s putter, nearly stopped before catching the slope and running into the hole.
A precious poppy 🥰
@mcilroyroryAfter this putt, the daughter takes the crowd to her feet.pic.twitter.com/vybhw0jdh0– PGA Tour (@pgatour) April 9, 2025
McIlroy, who completes a career grand slam with Sunday’s victory, praised the opportunity to focus on her daughter who stopped an on-course interview with ESPN.
“The accumulation of this event is a lot, it’s kind of a prediction, and we’re waiting eight or nine months for the next major to roll from the open championship,” McIlroy said. “It’s such a fun afternoon to get the preparation done in an afternoon like this.”
Previously, when Bradley’s family went down the first hole, the seven-year-old Logan showed an impressive grasp of the Masters’ patron etiquette when he cried out to his younger brother.
Byeong Hun An’s 5-year-old son Sun-woo received the ace’s worthy cheers when he bombed the drive midway through the green of the first hole at 130 yards. Sang Woo then took out the iron and after some whim (huh, the swing of practice), he slammed the worm burner scooped into the greenside bunker.
Scotty Schaeffler drilled three footers for birdie in the first hole. It’s even more impressive as I hugged my 11-month-old son Bennett with one hand.
Tom Hoge gave high fives to players and caddies from his group. Brooks Koepka used the slope behind the hole on the sixth day as the last hole in one of the day, the 115th in the history of the contest.
“If you’re not ready by now, you really don’t have a chance. You’ll need a lot of energy this week,” McIlroy said. “It’s a tough walk, a hill, a mental energy you’re consuming. Once you’ve done this, go home, have dinner, relax and prepare for tomorrow.”