
Luke Donald won the dreaded par 3 competition that golfers dare not win ahead of the Masters at Augusta National.
No one has managed to slip into the green jacket after winning the mini-tournament since its inception in 1960.
And the world number four, who is tipped for contention this weekend, will be hoping to put an end to that jinx once and for all.
He shot a -5 22 on the 9-hole semi-social event, in which Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player teed off in the featured group.
Nicklaus and Palmer will also strike the ceremonial first shots off the first tee on Thursday, one of the many rich traditions at Augusta.
Donald has climbed up the rankings since he ended a four year slump by winning the Madrid Masters in May last year.
Since then, he has added the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship, where he beat current number one Martin Kaymer by 3 & 2 in the final.
He was also played a vital role in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory at Celtic Manor.
The 33-year-old from Hemel Hempstead had been number three until last Sunday, when Phil Mickelson won the Shell Houston Open to take his position behind Lee Westwood.
That made the three-time Masters champion this week’s favourite in the eyes of many as he looks to capture his fourth jacket and par with rival Tiger Woods.
But it will be Donald, Westwood, along with Ian Poulter and Paul Casey who lead the English charge and Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy flying the flag for Northern Ireland.
They will be challenging to become the fourth Brit to win at Augusta and join Sandy Lyle (1988), Nick Faldo (1989, 1990, 1996) and Ian Woosnam (1991).
It is also worth noting no European has won since Jose Maria Olazabal's 1999 triumph.
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