Shane Lowry was thrilled to blow off some pre-Masters tension and make an ace n the Par-Three Contest with his wife Wendy and baby daughter Iris getting a front row seat.

"It was good — 74 yards — it was special because my wife and baby were with me,” Lowry said with a grin. 

"I just wanted to make a one here and so it was cool. In my opinion, this is one of the best parts of the week, so it's just nice to be out here before the next few days.

“It takes a bit of pressure off. Wednesday afternoons can be quite stressful at a major championship, so just to be out here, relaxed and enjoying life is nice.”

Lowry had a hole in one on the 16th in the final round in 2016 but he’s claiming last night’s ace as the fifth of his career, even if it did come on the short course at Augusta. 

“It was 74 yards, you had to pitch it past the flag on the left and I hit a lob wedge and a little bit of spin and it takes a bit of luck from there,” he said. 

"If I count that it's number five.  I'm sure I will.  It's my second one at Augusta.  I had one at 16.”

He didn’t post a score, avoiding the possibility of being struck down by the jinx. So far, nobody has been able to win the Par-Three Contest and the Masters in the same year.

England’s Matt Wallace will carry the hoodoo this year after he beat Sandy Lyle on the third extra hole.

“I wanted to hole that putt on the last and I didn't and then went to a playoff,” Wallace said of his round of five-under 22 which included an ace at the eighth.

“And it got a little bit more serious than how the nine holes went and I guess I just I wanted to win this, I want to break history somewhat.”