Gary Player, eight others shoot holes-in-one during par-three contest at Masters

The Wednesday par-three contest at the Masters produced even more roars than usual, with nine holes-in-one.

Gary Player, 80, made an ace and two came on consecutive shots, with Rickie Fowler topping Justin Thomas in a group of 20-somethings that also included defending champion Jordan Spieth.

“It might have been the hardest shot I ever hit trying to follow them,” Spieth said. “Boy, that was so much fun.”

Chirped Fowler, “You got to man up and hit the shot. Just couldn’t do it.”

“Pretty cool,” Fowler added. “Something that we’ll remember forever, that’s for sure.”

All but three of the nine holes on the par-three course surrendered an ace. The others were by Jimmy Walker, David Lingmerth, Andy Sullivan, Zach Johnson, Smylie Kaufman and Webb Simpson.

Walker, a five-time tour winner, won the par-three contest at eight-under, making the ace and six birdies. No player has won the par-three championship and Masters in the same year.

How’s your back?

Like Tiger Woods, Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne is recovering from back surgery he had in November.

Jokingly asked in his Wednesday news conference who would return to golf first, himself or Woods, Payne said, “Well, last night [at the Champions Dinner], he looked good. He looked better than me. I was delighted. You know, he’s encouraged. I could tell the fire is building back up in his belly, and I suspect Tiger’s going to be back fairly quickly, and I’m looking forward to it.”

As for Payne, he said he hoped to be playing golf by June.

“Unfortunately, we’re closed then,” he said of the club, adding with a mischievous smile, “We may, however, open it up for one day.”

Hoffman draws Tom Watson

Charley Hoffman ended last year’s Masters playing on Sunday with a chance to win. This year, his Masters will be special from the first shot.

The San Diegan is grouped for the first two rounds with Tom Watson, a 66-year-old, two-time Masters champ who will compete at Augusta National for the last time. It is Watson’s 43 Masters.

“I’ve never played with him before,” Hoffman said, “but getting one in at the Masters in his last time is a pretty cool situation to be in.”

In only his third Masters last year, Hoffman shot 67-68 in the first two rounds and was tied for second place. A third-round 71 put him in fourth, but he closed with a disappointing 74 and tied for ninth.

That kind of finish has been a problem for Hoffman this year. His last four Sunday scores on the PGA Tour: 73, 75, 75, 76. Last week in Houston, he opened with a 64 and shot six-over on the weekend.

“My analysis is that I’ve got to get my head out of my [rear end] and start playing great golf,” Hoffman, 39, said Wednesday after nine holes of practice. “I need to rein it in when I’m going backward. It’s nothing new. I’ve done it in the past.”

Of Augusta, he said, “It’s a special place. The Holy Grail. I love these greens and the contours on them.”

Forecast: rain, wind

The Augusta area was expected to get rain in the early morning hours Thursday, followed by sunshine. That will soften the course, but the more significant factor could be wind.

Gusts of up to 25 to 30 mph are forecast for Thursday through Saturday. The temperatures will be among the coolest in recent Masters history, with a high of 63 predicted for Saturday and 66 for Sunday.