For a split second on Sunday afternoon it seemed like Masters Par 3 Contest curse was on the mat for 10 count. You've probably heard of the curse before, the one where nobody has ever won the Par 3 Contest and the Masters in the same week. Luke Donald heard those very same words a million times this week ... but he wasn't giving in to the pressure.
Donald had been quietly hovering a couple shots back of the lead all day, but he needed to make a move on the final hole and post 10-under to see if he could force a playoff. Standing over his approach shot, Donald took dead aim, watching as his shot zeroed in on the hole.
But in typical Masters Par 3 Contest curse fashion, the shot ricocheted off the pin and rolled back into the fairway, leaving Donald with a tricky chip. In a instant, Donald went from having a dramatic eagle to fighting for par. The curse had won again.
Or so we thought. Donald ended up chipping in the next shot, capping off a dramatic final round 3-under 69. While the Englishman ended up finishing four shots back of Charl Schwartzel -- he of four birdies in the final four holes fame -- he proved that the curse, while still intact, shouldn't ruin your week.
Like the Chicago Cubs, so many guys use the Par 3 curse as a crutch if they play poorly at the Masters. Instead, Donald used it as motivation for the week, and showed us that we're getting closer to possibly seeing the Par 3 winner take home a green jacket in the near future.
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