THE MASTERS RELATED STORIES The Masters Home Page The Masters Preview Round 4: Angel Cabrera wins Masters in a playoff Round 4: Mickelson & Tiger in epic duel Round 4: Katayama in best finish by a Japanese Round 4: Campbell rues missed opportunities Round 4: Late mistakes cost Kenny Perry dearly Round 4: McIlroy ends Masters in flurry of birdies Round 4: Augusta passes renovations test Round 4: Thrilling climax to classic Masters Round 3: Kenny Perry & Angel Cabrera lead by 2 Round 3: Woods & Mickelson paired on Sunday Round 3: Shingo Katayama aiming for Asian major Round 3: Padraig Harrington's chances go with a 9 Round 2: Campbell & Perry lead at halfway Round 2: Anthony Kim breaks birdie record Round 2: No progress for Tiger with round of 72 Round 2: Todd Hamilton shows return to form Round 1: Arnold Palmer gets Masters underway Round 1: Chad Campbell leads the way with a 65 Round 1: Tiger Woods opens with a 70 Round 1: Larry Mize surprised to be five under Round 1: Norman creating new Masters memories Round 1: Youngsters fail to make an impression Course Guide: Augusta National The Masters Scores Criticism grows over tougher Augusta Sergio Garcia looking to shake unwanted label Seve Ballesteros remembered at Augusta Tim Clark wins the Masters Par-3 competition Chilly weather greets players at Augusta Greg Norman returns for another shot at Augusta Tee times for the opening two rounds Tiger Woods 7-4 favourite for the Masters Trevor Immelman emotional about title defence Padraig Harrington aiming for third straight major Tiger Woods carries aura into Masters Corporate cut backs in evidence Tiger Woods comeback the talk of The Masters Golf's younger generation tee up at Augusta Final Masters for Gary Player Time running out for Masters hopefuls Fifteen qualify for 2009 Masters Tiger Woods confident of returning for Masters Only minor changes at Augusta for 2009 Masters Honda brings Yang top 150 and Masters slot 2009 PGA Tour Schedule and Results 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 COMPETITIONS, GIFTS AND OFFERS Fantastic Cleveland wedge trade-in offer! Teeofftimes Fore-Tee Days of Giveaways! WIN 2 nights/3 rds at Botley Park Tom Watson's DVD - only £19.99! Save money on golf in France!

Tim Clark wins the Masters Par-3 competition

South Africa’s Tim Clark will be the next player to test the Masters Par-Three curse after winning the fun-filled event on Wednesday.

While golfers enjoyed some laughs and a few holes-in-one on a sun-kissed afternoon ahead of Thursday’s opening round, a victory at the Par-Three remains a dark omen.

Since it became part of the tournament build-up in 1960 no winner has gone on to clinch the Masters in the same year.

“It’s one tournament you don’t want to win,” said 1979 Masters champion Fuzzy Zoeller. “History will tell you, you don’t want to win.”

Clark’s victory marks the second consecutive year a South African has won the Par-Three following Rory Sabbatini’s success in 2008.

The event has turned into something of a ‘take your kids to work day’ for golfers as they enlist their children or grandchildren into caddie duty, allowing them to take the occasional shot to the roar of approval from the galleries.

The day’s featured group included a trio of golf’s greatest names—Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.

Player, who will compete in his 52nd and final Masters on Thursday, exited the Par-Three in style, spectacularly holing out at the ninth for a par after finding water off the tee.

“That was an exciting par,” said Player. “My seven-year-old grandson said: ‘Gramps you still got it’”.

Clark finished with a hole-in-one at the last, his ball holding on the ninth green before rolling back 12 feet into the cup to take the lead.

A hole-in-one for Australian Greg Norman earned a kiss and hug from his caddie and wife Chris Evert.

“That was my first in 23 years being here,” said Norman.

“She (Evert) got the right line.

“She has the right lines anyway,” laughed the twice British Open champion.

Tiger Woods has not been part of the fun for several years, preferring to spend the day fine-tuning his final preparations by playing Augusta National’s front nine ahead of Thursday’s opening round when he will chase a fifth green jacket and 15th major.