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Sport
Adam Schupak

Masters survey 2023: How do pros decide who will caddie for them at the Par 3 Contest?

Who would be willing to don an Augusta National white jumpsuit and caddie at the Masters Par 3 Contest?

Or perhaps the better question would be who wouldn’t be willing to do so? It’s become a family affair on the Wednesday before the Masters, the calm before the storm, with wives and girlfriends, children and grandchildren among those serving as caddies.

If the site of toddlers in their miniature jumpsuits tending a flagstick doesn’t bring a smile to your face, well, we simply can’t be friends.

Through the years, celebrities such as tennis stars Chris Evert, Caroline Wozniacki and Andy Roddick, NFL QB Matt Ryan, musician Niall Horan and NBA Hall of Famer David Robinson have been among those toting bags.

The Par 3 Contest, which is scheduled for April 5, dates back to 1960 when Sam Snead claimed the title. This year, contestants will play a new version of the club’s short course, which received a makeover. The exhibition starts at noon. Live streaming video coverage will be available on Masters.com at 2 p.m. ET.

Here’s how the pros choose who is going to be on their bag.

Keegan Bradley

Keegan Bradley at the 2019 Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Early on in my career, I had my parents, I had Mike Dunphy, who started me out with Srixon and was really important in my career. There were a couple people that it was a way to say thank you to have them out there.

Sam Burns

Sam Burns at the 2022 Masters Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: David Cannon/Getty Images)

My wife. She’s got it as long as she wants it.

Stewart Cink

Stewart Cink reacts to his shot on the ninth hole during the Par 3 Contest ahead of the 2012 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

I’ve played in so many I have had different formulas. My dad caddied and when the kids got old enough they alternated. When they had done it a lot of times, we offered it to some of our foundation supporters. And Matt Ryan did it once.

Corey Conners

Malory Conners, wife of Corey Conners, at the 2019 Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

My wife and I took turns carrying my daughter around last year. Hopefully she’ll be walking around this time. She and my wife will be on the bag for years to come.

Harris English

Harris English at the 2014 Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

I’ve had kind of everyone in the family from mom to dad and hoping to get my wife on the bag and someday our child.

Tony Finau

Tony Finau and his family at the 2022 Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

I have all my kids go out there. Jraice is usually the one who carries my bag because he’s the one most into golf.

Tommy Fleetwood

Tommy Fleetwood talks with his son, Frankie, on the fifth hole at the 2022 Masters Par 3 Contest. (Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran-Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY Network)

There’s no decision. It’s going to be the kids.

Jim Furyk

Just random. Once the kids were old enough it became their spot.

Max Homa

Max Homa with his wife Lacey and son Cameron after he won the 2023 Farmers Insurance Open Torrey Pines in San Diego. (Photo: Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports)

My wife. There’s no decision involved. It will be cool having Cam with us this year.

Billy Horschel

Billy Horschel plays with his daughter Skylar as wife Brittany looks on during 2016 Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)

I carry my bag now and my kids run around. My first year I had my dad do it. My older brother did it. My wife did it with Skylar. When my little one gets a little he’s going to have to carry the bag.

Viktor Hovland

Viktor Hovland at the 2019 Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

I have only done it once because of COVID. I had my dad caddie for me. He’s more than welcome to do it again but maybe get my mom there this year.

Trevor Immelman

My kids won’t let anyone else do it, so very quick decision.

Zach Johnson

Zach Johnson holds up Jordan Spieth’s son Sammy at the 2022 Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)

Close individuals. I’ve been going through the family. My sister-in-law was doing it last year and we went to the first tee and they blew the horn so she gets to do it again this year.

Kevin Kisner

My kids fight over it and whichever one wins.

Matt Kuchar

Matt Kuchar at the 2016 Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)

It’s varied but now that the kids are old enough they get first priority. Before that I went through all the family members back to my grandpa.

Collin Morikawa

Collin Morikawa and Katherine Zhu at the 2020 DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

It’s a pretty auto answer to have my wife, Kat, caddie for me. She played golf in college and the Masters is special in her heart. I’ve only played one (Par-3 contest) so I think as time goes on I have to bring my dad in for one, my brother can care less, not sure my mom would want to, but I think my dad will at some point.

Jack Nicklaus

Gary Nicklaus, Jr. the grandson of Jack Nicklaus holds up the ball after making a hole-in-one on the 9th hole during the Par 3 Contest before the 2018 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Rob Schumacher/USA TODAY Sports)

I’ve worked my way through my grandkids and tried to do so when they were available and the most appropriate time for them. Barbara isn’t a grandchild but she’s going to do a repeat performance for me (on Thursday) at No. 1.

Gary Player

Gary Player reacts after hitting a hole-in-one at the 2016 Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

With 22 grandchildren and now two great grandchildren, there is always fierce competition for who carries the bag. My late wife, Vivienne, always kept track of who was up next. She always planned well in advance so really it’s just whose ever turn it is. I think it will be incredible to have a great grandchild with me. Has that ever been done before? Let’s hope I live that long!

Jon Rahm

That’s easy, my wife. It’s a family thing so there really isn’t another option.

Xander Schauffele

Xander Schauffele at the 2022 Masters Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)

I’ve had my girlfriend at the time, now wife, I’ll try to have my mom. I don’t think my dad would do it. If a friend really wanted to do it, I’d consider it. It would be somebody close to me.

Adam Scott

Adam Scott at the 2022 Masters. (Photo: Matt Slocum/Associated Press)

It’s luck of the draw really. Whoever I bump into at the right time. It’s been so many different people. It’s been family, of course, but the most random was a friend from the U.K. who was so desperate to do it. I said if you fly over. I’ll let you do it and he committed and he did it.

Jordan Spieth

Jordan Spieth and his wife Annie hold their son Sammy at the 2022 Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)

I rotated through family and now it will be Annie because we have Sammy. That will be an easy one going forward.

Scott Stallings

I have two kids. They’re doing it.

Kevin Streelman

Kevin Streelman at the 2015 Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

I had my dad, I had my mom, I had my wife, I had my father-in-law, and in the fifth one I won it with Ethan Couch, who was a Make-A-Wish participant. I called Make-A-Wish and asked them if they had someone who might want to do it. I say it was the greatest moment on grass, better than my wins. It put everything in perspective.

Justin Thomas

Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler at the 2016 Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)

I asked one of my best friends and it got canceled in 2020 and 2021 and then when we went to play last year it got rained out. He’s 0-for-3.

Gary Woodland

Gary Woodland wit his son Jaxson at the 2022 Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran-Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY Network)

It used to be friends and family, but the kids are getting to the age where they will be doing it from here on out.

Will Zalatoris

Will Zalatoris plays a shot from a bunker on the 15th hole during the final round of the 2021 Masters. (Photo: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)

My wife because I like having the key to my house work.

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