The Masters: Jack Nicklaus set to stop playing the traditional Par-3 contest at Augusta National

The traditional Par-3 contest will be live on Sky Sports Golf from 7pm on Wednesday April 6, as part of extended coverage from The Masters at Augusta National; Opening men's major runs from April 7-10 in Georgia

Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player struck the honorary tee shots ahead of the opening round of the 85th Masters at Augusta National.

Six-time Masters champion Jack Nicklaus will no longer feature in the Par-3 contest at Augusta National when the event returns this month.

The contest is coming back to Wednesday of tournament week at The Masters, having been cancelled the previous two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with Nicklaus traditionally part of the field and having a family member acting as his caddie.

Nicklaus made a hole-in-one during the 2015 Par-3 contest, his first-ever at Augusta National, while his last appearance came when the event last took place in 2019.

Six-time Masters champion Jack Nicklaus rolled back the years as he made a hole in one on the fourth during the Par-3 contest in 2015

"It's fun to go to the Masters dinner (but) I'm done with the Par-3 (Contest)," Nicklaus told Golfweek. "Toward the end of my career, I used to play every year. But I just can't play anymore."

Nicklaus previously described his 2018 appearance in the Par-3 contest as "his greatest day at Augusta National" after watching grandson Gary Nicklaus Jr make a hole-in-one at the par-three eighth.

Advertisement
Golfing skills run in the family as Jack Nicklaus' grandson GT made a hole-in-one during the Masters Par-3 contest in 2018

The Par-3 contest will be shown live on Wednesday April 6 from 7pm on Sky Sports Golf, ahead of the opening round of The Masters being shown the following day from 2pm on the same channel.

The 82-year-old is still scheduled to participate in the traditional first-tee ceremony before the opening round begins next Thursday, where he will be joined by three-time Green Jacket winner Gary Player and two-time Masters champion Tom Watson as the honorary starters.

Also See:

Harris withdraws from The Masters

Harris English has decided not to play in The Masters as he recovers from surgery to repair a torn labrum to his hip.

The world No 21, who won twice on the PGA Tour last season and finished third in the US Open at Torrey Pines, hasn't competed since the Sony Open in mid-January.

In a statement on Twitter, English said: "Regrettably, I will not be able to compete next week at The Masters. I'm progressing very well from recent hip surgery, but have to exercise caution as I return to play. I look forward to joining my friends and fellow competitors on the PGA Tour soon."

There are no alternates at The Masters, an invitation tournament. That puts the field at 90 players, with one spot available if the Texas Open winner this week is not eligible.

Watch The Masters throughout the week live on Sky Sports, with coverage live from April 4-10 on Sky Sports Golf!

Outbrain