Donald not worried by Par-3 win jinx

Golf:England's Luke Donald shrugged off the jinx of the US Masters' Par-3 contest after winning the curtain-raiser to the first major of the season which gets under way at Augusta National in Georgia today.

Donald won the nine-hole event that features player's children dressed as caddies with a score of five-under-par 22. Tied for second one stroke back were 1976 Masters champion Raymond Floyd and 2009 winner Angel Cabrera of Argentina.

In the 51 years the event has been staged since Sam Snead won the inaugural contest in 1960, no Par-3 winner has gone on to victory in the Masters the same year. Floyd came close to ending the jinx in 1990, but lost the Masters in a play-off with Nick Faldo.

Last year's Par-3 winner was South African Louis Oosthuizen, who missed the Masters cut, but went on to win the 2010 British Open. Still, Donald took his performance sign as a positive as he collected the crystal trophy.

"Some short shots that you hit out here are similar to the course, so it's partly why I play some years," said Donald, who is seeking his first major. "I think that it's good preparation.

"If you're hitting wedges close it's only a good thing."

World number one Martin Kaymer of Germany does not think Donald has the jinx to worry about, tipping his Ryder Cup team mate as the player to beat in the tournament because of his brilliant short game and putting.

"It's a big compliment coming from the world's best ranked player right now," Donald said. "So you feed off comments like that.

"I think when your peers are speaking highly about something, you can feed off it and make yourself believe that you're better than you might even think you are."

Another of Donald's Ryder Cup team mates from Celtic Manor, Graeme McDowell, reigning US Open champion, took no chances with the jinx by passing up the Par-3 event to watch the Champions League match between Manchester United and Chelsea on television.

The Portrush pro was surely happy with his decision as the United fan got to see a 1-0 victory.

McDowell is the last of three Irishmen in the field to take to the course for today’s first round. He will wet off at 3.41pm Irish time. Rory McIlroy tees off at 2.24pm with Pádraig Harrington set for a 2.57pm time.