Fan notes: Watching the Par-3

UP-CLOSE VIEW: For the fourth year, Kyler Aubrey, 20, and his father, Josh Aubrey, staked out the same spot on the ropes at the end of the Par-3 Course.

Kyler, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth and uses a wheelchair, was craning his neck watching for his favorite players: Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell.

He perked up when he thought he saw McIlroy approaching the eighth green.

Several golfers greeted Kyler, including Phil Mick­el­son, who stopped to autograph his yellow flag and lean in for a hug.

Josh Aubrey, of States­boro, Ga., said it’s not easy navigating the hilly course in a wheelchair but that the Par-3 Contest was a good opportunity to see the golfers up close.

“They’ve been really nice to let us come up here close,” Josh said.

TOO CUTE: Rachel Benne’s hands were overflowing with four golf balls and two gloves she retrieved from players during the Par-3 Contest.

“It’s kind of hard to remember all the stuff,” said Rachel, 6.

After standing along the ropes collecting memorabilia, Rachel hadn’t yet decided if she would share with her brother, 9-year-old Ryan, who collected two golf balls.

Her secret?

“Being cute,” she said. “I heard some people say ‘give it to that girl in the pink. I like her.’ ”

MEMORY MAKER: Watching Arnold Palmer tee off on the first hole of the Par-3 Contest stood out among countless moments Jimmy Howell witnessed Wednesday.

“It was phenomenal seeing the guys tee off,” said Howell, of Longview, Texas. He wore a white hat sold in the merchandise store especially for Par-3 day.

FLOWER FAN: Vivian Persall, of Aiken, wanted to see the famed flowers at Augusta Na­tional Golf Club that she has seen many times on television.

During her first trip to the course on Wednesday, she visited Founders Circle to be photographed in front of the yellow flower bed shaped to form the Masters Tournament logo.

“It’s amazing,” Persall said. “I am looking forward to experiencing everything today.”