Bad weather ends Par-3 Contest

Thunderstorms brought a premature end Wednesday to the Par-3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club.

Padraig Harrington and Jonathan Byrd, who were tied atop the leaderboard at 5-under, were declared co-champions.

The first-place tie is the third in the history of the Par-3 and first since 2003, when Harrington and David Toms split the title.

After a sunny, mild morning, dark clouds rolled in during the afternoon. Masters legends Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus were playing the Par-3 when the club’s weather-warning sirens went off. Players and patrons were asked to clear the course.

Wednesday’s bad weather followed heavy thunderstorms that rolled through the area Tuesday night, knocking down trees around the 365-acre property and delaying the opening of the final practice round on the eve of the 76th Masters Tournament.

Adam Scott, Webb Simpson and Jerry Pate were tied at 4-under, though Simpson and Pate did not finish their round.

Thomas Bjorn and Mark Wilson scored the tournament’s only aces. Bjorn’s hole-in-one came at the ninth hole, while Wilson aced the fourth.