The Masters Par 3 Contest Props: Over/Under on Hole in Ones Set at 3.5

By Michael Harrison in Golf
Updated: April 21, 2020 at 9:17 am EDTPublished:

- A tradition unlike any other – the Masters Par 3 contest begins April 10th
- No Par 3 contest winner has ever slipped into a green jacket that same year
- We have some fun prop bets to wager on for this annual tradition
The 2019 Masters is right around the corner on April 11th with Rory McIlroy the clear favorite to complete the career grand slam.
Before Jim Nantz can wax poetic about the azaleas and Magnolia Lane, there is the annual par-3 contest taking place on April 10th. It’s always a lighthearted affair with current players and legends of the game teeing it up for the 9-hole competition.
Will There Be a Hole in One?
Will There Be a Hole in One? | Odds |
---|---|
Yes | -3300 |
No | +1200 |
This one should be pretty straightforward – don’t overthink it. With the world class players competing and each having nine chances to record an ace, it’ll almost assuredly occur.
https://twitter.com/wheelingprobs/status/981655120193572864
Last year there were three aces including perhaps the most famous one ever (more on that later.) The bet here is yes.
Pick: Yes (-3300)
How Many Holes in One Will There Be?
Number of Holes in One | Odds |
---|---|
Over 3.5 | -120 |
Under 3.5 | -110 |
The record for most holes in one in a single year was a whopping nine in 2016, bettering the previous high water mark of five in 2002. While it may be the prudent decision to pick the under, give your head a shake, misery guts. Cheer for fireworks, so bet the over.

Pick: Over 3.5 (-120)
Par 3 Contest Winning Score Odds
Par 3 Contest Winning Score | Odds |
---|---|
Over 22.5 | +260 |
Under 22.5 | -350 |
Last year, the venerable Tom Watson became the oldest winner with a 6-under, 21 at the age of 68! This line feels like it should be set at 21.5, because there’s virtually no way nobody shoots 5 under par.
Tom Watson just won the par-3 contest at Augusta with a six-under-par 21. He’s 68. Amazing. Means the tradition that no par-3 winner has ever won the tournament will continue since he’s not playing. He should go ahead and play. Might make the cut. He’s remarkable.
— John Feinstein (@JFeinsteinBooks) April 4, 2018
The only thing to consider is that winning the Par 3 contest is considered a curse, so someone in contention may throw it so they don’t jinx themselves. Still, somebody will go low, so bet the under.
Pick: Under 22.5 (-350)
Will the Par 3 Contest Winner Win the Masters?
Will the Par 3 Contest Win the Masters? | Odds |
---|---|
Yes | +2000 |
No | -6600 |
At first blush this seems too juicy to pass up. However, no Par 3 contest winner has ever slipped into a green jacket later that week. The closest was Raymond Floyd in 1990, but he ended up losing a playoff to Nick Faldo.
No Par 3 Contest winner has won the Masters the same year as his short-course victory. There have been 18 Par 3 Contest winners who have missed the cut.
Par 3 Contest coverage starts on https://t.co/IgFtXxugL6 and https://t.co/sT1rwJRe2H at 2 ET and on ESPN at 3 ET
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 4, 2018
As stated earlier, sometimes those winning get scared they’ll not take home a green jacket so they purposely stop keeping track of their score. Do the smart thing and bet no.
Pick: No (-6600)
Odds a Player Misses the Masters Due to Par 3 Contest Injury
Will Anyone Miss the Masters Because of Par 3 Injury? | Odds |
---|---|
Yes | +1400 |
No | -4000 |
This of course is a cheeky homage to one of the most shocking and seemingly gruesome injuries from the 2018 Masters Par 3 Contest courtesy of Tony Finau.
Salt Lake City's Tony Finau hits a hole-in-one at the Masters Par-3 Tournament, then turns his ankle celebrating. Hopefully he'll be OK for tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/o9RR9siWIM
— Dana Greene (@dana_greene) April 4, 2018
Somehow he popped his ankle back in after celebrating that hole in one and ended up competing in the Masters en route to a top-10 in his tournament debut.
Tony Finau tied for 10th at the Masters (and earned a return trip for 2019) with a left ankle that looked like this: pic.twitter.com/vGqomzO9kT
— Ryan Lavner (@RyanLavnerGC) April 9, 2018
Betting yes to this is foolish and reckless for not a massive payout, so pick no.
Pick: No (-4000)

Sports & Entertainment Writer
Michael "Hound Dog" Harrison is well known in the sports industry as the resident statistician for the SC with Jay Onrait Show. He has worked at TSN for over 19 years, is the CEO of his "All Bets Par Off" weekly golf betting videos and his HDOG POD, along with several others.