Kevin Streelman enjoys Par-3 win with young caddie

Kevin Streelman didn’t care about any curse at Wednesday’s Par-3 Contest. He was thinking about someone else.

While Streelman beat Camilo Villegas in a playoff after they tied at 5-under, the 36-year-old focused on the boy caddying for him and not the “curse” that the Par-3 winner won’t win that year’s Masters Tournament.

Ethan Couch, 13, from Alberta, Canada, has a benign but inoperable brain tumor, as reported on ESPN.com. Streelman contacted the Make-A-Wish Foun­dation, which led to Ethan’s being his caddie.

“I’m honored to win this, especially this year with Ethan with me,” Streelman said. “This day isn’t about me, it’s about him, so I was trying to win one for him.”

As for the curse, “I think someone’s going to break it sometime,” Streelman said.

The Par-3 Contest had more star power than usual, and it wasn’t just because One Direction heartthrob Niall Horan caddied for Rory McIl­roy. Tiger Woods played the Par-3 for the first time since 2004. His 6-year-old son, Char­lie, carried clubs almost as large as him.

As for the Big Three, Arnold Pal­mer didn’t compete, but he did watch usual partners – and fellow honorary starters – Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player tee off with Ben Crenshaw.

“It was nice, but it was also sad,” Player said of seeing Palmer watch Wednesday. “Playing with him every year, all of a sudden he’s sitting there, it’s kind of sad. We missed him.”

Trevor Immelman had the day’s first ace, on No. 5. The field combined to tie the record of five holes-in-one.

Nicklaus, 75, aced No. 4, making him the oldest in the contest’s history to get a hole-in-one.

“I never had a hole-in-one at Augusta,” said the six-time Masters champion, who hit into the pond twice on No. 9. “I had an interview this morning, and I said, ‘Well, all I’ve got to do is go out and win the Par-3 and make a hole-in-one,’ and I make a hole-in-one. I had 3-under for the Par-3, and then choked.”

Villegas had two holes-in-one, on No. 4 and No. 8. Matias Dominguez also aced No. 4.

“I’ve made a few holes-in-one, but it’s pretty special to do it here,” said Villegas, who added that he’s recorded 14 in his career. “And it was kind of nice to make it with Keegan (Bradley) right there, too.”

After golfers completed their Par-3 rounds, most enjoyed signing autographs for young fans. Before finishing No. 9, Player, with a little jump in his step, moved down the line and slapped hands with the fans.

“The crowd, they are so enthusiastic, and the love that they give us going around is something that we appreciate very much indeed,” he said. “I’ve traveled more miles than any human being ever and I’ve played in more different places and I see people from all over the globe here.”