By Travis Puterbaugh, World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum Curator
Two-time Major Champion and the 1971 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year, World Golf Hall of Fame Member Hubert Green experienced countless memorable moments as a professional golfer. On April 10, 1985, Green achieved one of the most unique victories of his career at Augusta National Golf Club. Green’s victory, however, came on a Wednesday – not a Sunday – and instead of a Green Jacket, he earned a Waterford Crystal pedestal bowl for winning the Masters Par-3 Contest.
One of the highlights of Masters Week, the Par-3 Contest began in 1960 and is held on a par-3 course at Augusta National. Originally conceived by Masters co-founder and World Golf Hall of Fame Member Clifford Roberts, the contest is an easygoing affair that features tournament participants and former champions paired with family, friends or special guests serving as their caddies. Green elected not to deviate from the norm, choosing to stick with his trusted caddie, Lorne “Rabbit” LeBere.
Known throughout his career for a great short game, Green’s touch was on-point as he posted a five-under-par 22, two off the course record 20 still held by both Gay Brewer and Art Wall, Jr. By 1985 however, Green himself acknowledged that Augusta National had become too long for his game.
“I can’t keep up with guys like Seve and Fuzzy and Watson on the big course,” Green said.
Famously, no player who has won the Par-3 Contest has gone on to win the Masters in the same year. Although Green missed the cut that year, he did go on to win the 67th PGA Championship that summer at Cherry Hills Country Club, and is one of only four golfers (including Tom Watson, David Toms and Louis Oosthuizen) to have won the Par-3 Contest and a Major Championship in the same year.
