AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tony Finau injured his left ankle celebrating a hole-in-one during the Par-3 Contest at the Masters and then seemingly popped it back into place.
Finau flew his ball to the back of the seventh green Wednesday on the par-3 course at Augusta National and spun it back into the hole for an ace. He started running toward the hole to celebrate, then turned and backpedaled before landing awkwardly on his left ankle. He dropped to one knee and ended up pushing the joint back into place.
Finau, ranked No. 34 in the world, ended up withdrawing from the event but stuck around for the final two holes. He gingerly walked to a golf cart and was driven off the course.
Finau did not meet with reporters, only saying, "I'm going to get it checked out" as he headed into the clubhouse.
How it's done
Aside from Finau, golf's greats — and their grandsons — got the Masters off to a dramatic start.
Tom Watson, 68, won the par-3 event. Gary Nicklaus aced the ninth hole as the caddie for his grandfather Jack Nicklaus.
Watson would have damaged his chances to win another Masters when he was the surprising winner of the contest at 6 under par. Known as a jinx, no one has ever won the Par 3 Contest and the Masters in the same year.
"After I birdied the first four holes, I said let's go for it," Watson said.