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WATCH: Bubba Watson makes hole-in-one during Masters Par 3 contest

Palmber-Thombsby:Palmer Thombs•04/05/23•

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Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The Masters hasn’t even started, and two former Georgia players have made aces at Augusta National so far this week. After Sepp Straka did so during his opening practice round on Monday at No. 12, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson made his during the Par 3 Contest on Wednesday. He has one of four alongside Seamus Power’s two and Scottie Scheffler’s.

Watson won The Masters in 2012 and 2014. His 2012 victory was particularly thrilling, starting the day three off the lead and winning on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff with an outstanding shot from deep in the woods on No. 10. Watson’s ball hooks 40 yards and stopped 15 feet from the hole. After just missing his birdie attempt, Watson tapped in for par for the green jacket and his first career major victory.

Watson has 12 victories on the PGA Tour on top of six from other various tours. Watson recently made the move to LIV Golf and is the captain of the RangeGoats, not playing in 2022 as he recovered from knee surgery but getting ready to go in 2023.

Watson is one of eight players in the field along with Harris English, Brian Harman, Russell Henley, Chris Kirk, Kevin Kisner, Keith Mitchell and Sepp Straka.

Thursday’s Round 1 pairings at The Masters

Georgia players in bold.

Tee No. 1
8:36 a.m. – Fred Couples, Russell Henley, Alex Noren
8:48 a.m. – Adrian Meronk, Kevin Kisner, Louis Oosthuizen
9:12 a.m. – Sergio Garcia, Kazuki Higa, Keith Mitchell
9:48 a.m. – Bubba Watson, Seamus Power, Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira (A)
10:06 a.m. – Abraham Ancer, Chris Kirk, Keegan Bradley
12:12 p.m. – Sepp Straka, Harold Varner III, Kyoung-Hoon Lee
12:36 p.m. – Billy Horschel, Harris English, Ryan Fox
1:00 p.m. – Brian Harman, Joaquin Niemann, Tyrrell Hatton

Friday’s Round 2 pairings

Tee No. 1
9:00 a.m. – Sepp Straka, Harold Varner III, Kyoung-Hoon Lee
9:24 a.m. – Billy Horschel, Harris English, Ryan Fox
9:48 a.m. – Brian Harman, Joaquin Niemann, Tyrrell Hatton
11:42 a.m. – Fred Couples, Russell Henley, Alex Noren
11:54 a.m. – Adrian Meronk, Kevin Kisner, Louis Oosthuizen
12:24 p.m. – Sergio Garcia, Kazuki Higa, Keith Mitchell
1:00 p.m. – Bubba Watson, Seamus Power, Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira (A)
1:12 p.m. – Abraham Ancer, Chris Kirk, Keegan Bradley

Georgia golf already making noise at Augusta this week

The aces from Straka and Watson weren’t the first time loud roars for a Georgia golfer have been heard at Augusta National this week. Over the weekend, Georgia fifth-year senior Jenny Bae finished second at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, falling on a second playoff hole to top-ranked women’s amateur Rose Zhang.

Bae started the final round six shots back of Zhang, the leader after both the first and second rounds, and closed the gap with a 2-under-par, 70, the lowest score of any golfer during the final round.

“I’m proud of myself, being able to even get the chance to go to a playoff and possibly win the title,” Bae said. “I’ve worked really hard. I also just want to say thank you to everyone, especially my caddie and my coach (Josh Brewer). 

“Honestly, without him, I don’t think I would’ve been able to even come here,” Bae continued. “He played a major factor today. I was really nervous and really tense the first few holes. He was just right there next to me, trying to crack jokes and trying to get me to eat and drink. A really key thing for me was trying to get me to stay patient, and I think he did a fantastic job.”

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