The Masters 2026: Household enjoyable and holes-in-one – why Par 3 contest crosses generations

The teen had the galleries chanting his title as he tried to fulfil a vow made 12 months in the past – to clear the water along with his tee shot on the ultimate ninth gap.

A yr older, larger and stronger – and armed with a bespoke membership – he had made it a mission to beat what had become a private problem.

“When I go on to the range I just think about this every single day,” Frankie mentioned in one in all numerous tv interviews through the spherical.

Described as a “chatterbox” by his dad, Frankie confirmed he’s a chip off the outdated block – speaking confidently in entrance of the digital camera, demonstrating a steeliness to succeed and possessing a trendy swing of the membership.

Anticipation constructed on the course because the Fleetwood household, once more alongside good buddies the McIlroys and Lowrys, performed their approach spherical to the ninth tee.

Young Frankie was vast proper along with his first try and, after the Augusta patrons sang for him to get one other likelihood, got here nearer with a second but it surely nonetheless ended up moist.

He walked off with the consoling arm of Shane Lowry’s daughter Iris – who additionally went near hitting the placing floor – spherical his shoulders.

“I think more than anything the pressure is on me to keep making the Masters until he reaches the green on the ninth,” mentioned father Tommy, who continues his quest this week for a primary main title following a number of top-five finishes.

Fleetwood tuned up his brief recreation with a hole-in-one which made the patrons roar, with American trio Justin Thomas, Wyndham Clark and Keegan Bradley additionally carding aces to dial up the leisure issue.

Bradley, who was the US captain of their Ryder Cup defeat by Europe final yr, is the primary participant within the historical past of the 66-year competitors to land holes-in-one in consecutive years.

The noise within the galleries is prone to be matched this week because the sporting drama intensifies, however the chaos contained in the ropes – toddlers sliding down bunkers and infants crawling throughout placing surfaces – will make approach for the cordiality of the primary occasion.

Father-of-five Jason Day jokingly described the event as “a circus”, with Clark including: “As a man with no kids I’ll say it’s great birth control but it’s a lot of fun.”

Celebrity stardust got here within the form of comic Kevin Hart, who caddied for two-time main champion Bryson DeChambeau, and former NFL star Jason Kelce in a roving reporter position on the course.

Their presence got here hours after Augusta chairman Fred Ridley mentioned the continued battle for the Masters to search out the stability “between respecting tradition and innovating”.

On this proof, the Par 3 Contest is continuous to tread the road rigorously because the Masters appears to be like to make sure it – and golf – stays related for generations to come back.