AUGUSTA OVERTURE

A PLEASANT PRELUDE TO THE MORE SERIOUS STUFF OF MASTERS WEEK IS THE PAR-3 CONTEST, A WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON EVENT THAT HAS ITS OWN COURSE AND ITS OWN TRADITIONS

RAINS BRIEFLY HELD UP PLAY AT LAST YEARS PAR-3. BRINGING FORTH A KALEIDOSCOPIC ARRAY OF FANS' AND GOLFERS' UMBRELLAS

THOUSANDS WATCHED AS TOMMY NAKAJIMA. WINNER OF THE 1988 EVENT. TEED OFF ON THE 135-YARD 9TH HOLE. THE FIRST CONTEST. IN 1960. WAS WON BY SAM SNEAD (ABOVE). WHO FINISHED ON TOP AGAIN IN 1974

THE SMALL COURSE GIVES SPECTATORS A CLOSE VIEW OF THE ACTION. PRIZE GO TO THE OVERALL WINTER AND THE PLAYERS WHOSE TEE SHOES ARE NEAREST TO THE PIN ON EACH OF THE COURSE NINE HOLE

THE 9TH HOLE PLAYS ACROSS IKE'S POND. NAMED FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT MASTERS CHAMPS ARNOLD PALMER (TOP). WHO WON THE PAR-3 IN 1967. AND BILLY CASPER ARE PERENNIAL WEDNESDAY FAVORITES

IS THIS BALL CLOSER TO THE HOLE THAN THE ONE BEFORE IT? A GREEN-CLAD CLUB OFFICIAL CHECKS THINGS OUT ON THE 7TH HOLE

NINE ILLUSTRATIONS

ROBERT WIEFERICH