Crenshaw to sub for Palmer
Ben Crenshaw will take Arnold Palmer’s place alongside Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player in the par-3 tournament at Augusta National.
The 1984 and 1995 Masters champion will mark his 44th and last consecutive appearance at the tournament by stepping in for Palmer, who is recovering from a dislocated shoulder, at the curtain-raising event on Wednesday afternoon.
The 85-year-old Palmer will still act as honorary starter on Thursday.
Billy Payne, chairman of Augusta National, said in a statement: “We were sad to learn that Arnold will not participate in this year’s Par 3 Contest, but his health is most important.
“We are very excited to welcome him to the tee Thursday as an Honorary Starter, where we will once again honour his extraordinary contributions to the Masters Tournament and the game of golf.
“We are pleased to announce that Ben Crenshaw has accepted our invitation to join Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player for this year, which we felt was a fitting way to acknowledge the end of Ben’s illustrious 44 years of competition at the Masters. We look forward to Arnold’s return to the Par 3 Contest next year.”
Winning the par-three tournament has been somewhat of a poisoned chalice, with no champion going on to win the tournament proper in the same year.v
Latest
-
PGA ChampionshipJustin Thomas pays tribute to caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay after his US PGA victory
Phil Mickelson’s former bagman gave Thomas a crucial pep talk after he shot 74 on Saturday.
-
PGA ChampionshipTommy Fleetwood confident he is ‘coming out the other side’ after dip in form
Fleetwood finished in a tie for fifth at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA ChampionshipEmotional Justin Thomas credits his experience for US PGA victory
Thomas also won the 2017 US PGA at Quail Hollow.
-
PGA ChampionshipJustin Thomas eclipses Will Zalatoris in play-off to claim second US PGA title
The former world number one’s victory equalled the biggest comeback in US PGA history.
-
PGA ChampionshipRory McIlroy’s Sunday charge at US PGA Championship ends in disappointment
McIlroy’s closing 68 in Tulsa was followed by him declining to speak to waiting reporters.
-
PGA ChampionshipPaul McGinley says Tiger Woods deserves better than to be a ‘ceremonial golfer’
The 46-year-old withdrew from a major championship for the first time in his professional career at Southern Hills.
-
PGA ChampionshipMito Pereira with three-shot lead at US PGA as Tiger Woods withdraws
It is the first time in his career that Woods has withdrawn from a major.
-
PGA ChampionshipMatt Fitzpatrick relishing chance at securing first major title
A third round of 67 means Fitzpatrick trails leader Mito Pereira by three shots at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA ChampionshipTiger Woods withdraws from US PGA following his worst round at event
The American made the halfway cut with a shot to spare at Southern Hills, but struggled to a nine-over-par 79 in the third round.
-
PGA ChampionshipRory McIlroy suffers early blow to slip further back at PGA Championship
After a run of five straight pars McIlroy pulled his tee shot to the par-three sixth into the water and ran up a double-bogey five.