Wednesday at Augusta: A low-key day of much Masters anticipation

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Wednesday is the oddest day of the week at The Masters.

There are no player press conferences. The only formal interview features the Masters chairman, now Fred Ridley, who takes questions on everything from course alterations to the international youth competitions.

In the afternoon, the players compete (or pretend to compete) in a par-3 competition, an event that has become so popular that the par-3 course is packed every year.

Some players play practice rounds in the morning, and some skip the par-3 tourney. No player who has ever won the par-3 tournament has won the subsequent Masters.

Because it’s a short, pitch-and-putt course, some of the greats of the game can hit spectacular shots, and holes-in-one are not unusual. The tourney is televised by ESPN from 2-4 p.m. Central.

The tournament begins on Thursday morning, after ceremonial tee shots by Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson.

Some tee times of interest for Thursday:

7 a.m. (Central): Former Gopher Erik van Rooyen will be the first competitor on the first tee, along with Jake Knapp.

8:36: Phil Mickelson, Sepp Straka and Tony Finau.

9:30: Defending champion Jon Rahm, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Nick Dunlap.

9:42: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele.

9:54: Cam Smith, Wyndham Clark, Victor Hovland.

12:24: Tiger Woods, Max Homa, Jason Day.

12:36: Brian Harman, Brooks Koepka, Tom Kim.

Course note: The 2nd hole, a dogleg left par-5, has been extended by 10 yards, with the tee box being pushed back toward Washington Road.