Everyone knows the drill. Wednesday at Augusta National is usually just a giant garden party with white jumpsuits and toddlers. But the Masters Par 3 Contest in 2025 actually felt like a real-deal competition for a change. Honestly, we usually spend more time looking at Scottie Scheffler’s kid than the leaderboard, but the finish this year was a total nail-biter.
So, who took home the crystal?
Nico Echavarria won the Masters Par 3 2025. The Colombian pro didn't just walk away with the win; he had to fight for it in a high-stakes playoff against J.J. Spaun. Both guys finished the nine-hole short course at 5-under par (shooting a 22). While most players were busy letting their kids putt out or purposefully skipping balls across the water, Echavarria stayed locked in. He eventually secured the victory on the second playoff hole with a birdie, leaving Spaun in the runner-up spot after a bogey.
How Nico Echavarria Won the Masters Par 3 2025
It wasn't a walk in the park.
Echavarria and Spaun were neck-and-neck all afternoon. When they finished tied at 5-under, the tournament officials sent them back to the 9th hole for a sudden-death showdown. On the first playoff attempt, both players made par. It was tense. The crowd was loving it because, usually, these things end in a "friendly" tie or someone just picks up their ball.
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Not these two.
On the second trip back to the 9th tee, Echavarria absolutely stuffed his tee shot. He left himself a short birdie look that he drained with zero hesitation. Spaun, unfortunately, struggled on the second go-around and ended up making a bogey. Just like that, Nico became the first Colombian to ever win the event. He gets the trophy, the crystal, and the bragging rights, though he also inherits the "curse" that comes with it.
The Famous Par 3 Curse
You've probably heard it mentioned on the broadcast a thousand times. Since the contest started in 1960, no player who won the Par 3 Contest has ever gone on to win the Green Jacket in the same week. It's a weird, persistent hex.
Guys like Raymond Floyd and Chip Beck have come close, but the streak remains unbroken. Echavarria said in his post-round interview that he’s not worried about it. He was just happy to have his family there. But for the betting folks and the golf purists, that win on Wednesday usually means you aren't the guy to put money on for Sunday.
More Than Just the Winner: The 2025 Aces
If you weren't watching the leaderboard, you were definitely watching the holes-in-one. We got three of them this year.
- Keegan Bradley: The 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup captain brought the house down at the 6th hole. He celebrated with his sons, Logan and Cooper, which was basically the peak "dad moment" of the week.
- Tom Hoge: This guy is a specialist. He won the thing in 2023 and has now made multiple aces at the Par 3 course. He aced the 4th hole (89 yards) with a wedge that spun back perfectly into the cup.
- Brooks Koepka: Brooks doesn't usually do "fun," but even he couldn't help but crack a smile after acing the 6th. He used the slope behind the hole to feed the ball back into the jar.
The Adorable Chaos of Wednesday
The golf is secondary to the kids. That's just the rule.
Rory McIlroy’s daughter, Poppy, stole the show again. She drained a massive 30-foot putt on the 9th hole that got a louder roar than most of the pros' birdies. Then you had Bennett Scheffler, Scottie’s son, rocking the tiny caddie jumpsuit. It’s basically a requirement at this point—if you have a kid, they have to wear the white overalls.
Sammy Spieth (Jordan's son) was also out there trying to hit shots. It’s chaos, really. Players are frequently seen holding a baby in one hand and a sand wedge in the other. It’s the only time all year you’ll see someone like Bryson DeChambeau take a "long way home" on a hole just to entertain the patrons.
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Final Leaderboard Standings
While Echavarria took the top spot, the rest of the board was packed with big names.
- Nico Echavarria (-5, won in playoff)
- J.J. Spaun (-5)
- Tyrrell Hatton (-4)
- Bubba Watson (-3)
- Mark O'Meara (-3)
Other notable finishes included Matt McCarty and Davis Riley, who both hung around the top of the board for most of the afternoon at 3-under. Even legendary veterans like Nick Faldo and Jose Maria Olazabal showed they've still got the touch on these tiny greens.
Lessons From the 2025 Par 3 Contest
If you’re looking for actual betting insight from a "fun" event, pay attention to the short-game touch. The Par 3 course doesn't require power, but it requires insane precision. Seeing Nico Echavarria roll the rock that well under playoff pressure says a lot about his mental state heading into the main event.
However, the "Curse" is the real takeaway. If you're picking your Masters winner, history says you should look at the guys who finished middle of the pack on Wednesday. They got the practice in without the bad luck of the crystal trophy.
Next Steps for Golf Fans:
- Watch the Par 3 highlights specifically to see the spin Hoge and Koepka put on their balls. It’s a masterclass in using Augusta's slopes.
- Check the Round 1 tee times to see if the Par 3 winner can defy history.
- Keep an eye on the weather, as the humidity on Wednesday often hints at how the greens will break during the first two rounds of the main tournament.
The Par 3 is over, the families have gone home, and the toddlers have been put to bed. Now, the real stress begins.