Padraig Wins at The Masters

Padraig Harrington became the first player to win the par-three tournament at Augusta on the eve of the Masters.

However, just like when he first won in 2003 when he shared the title with David Toms, Harrington was joint winner - this time with Jonathan Byrd - after the pair returned five-under-par 22 over nine holes.

Moreover, the competition remained incomplete as the threat of lightning forced play to be abandoned at around 3.30pm local time with many players still on the course.

What it means again, though, is that Harrington will have to beat a jinx to become Masters champion on Sunday.

Since the par three event started in 1960, nobody has lifted that crown and then won the event proper as well four days later.

Harrington went round with his sons Patrick (eight) and Ciaran (four), as well as Japan's Ryo Ishikawa and American amateur Patrick Cantlay.

"This is my 13th time playing it and the least amount of wind, so the scoring was on," he said. "The whole thing is memorable. I didn't hit anything stone dead or anything like that."

Lee Westwood and Thomas Bjorn had television presenters Ant and Dec - Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly - carrying their bags, with Bjorn finishing with a hole-in-one.

American Mark Wilson also had an ace, at the 130-yard fourth.

Darren Decides to Skip Par 3

Darren Clarke admitted that he was still in pain with a groin injury after completing nine holes of a final practice round at Augusta ahead of the start of the Masters on Thursday.

“Sore,” was how the British Open champion described himself after an early nine holes of practice, and it led to him joining Luke Donald in deciding not to play the par-three competition.

“I don’t think another nine holes is going to do it any good,” Clarke said.

The 43-year-old first struggled with the problem as he missed the halfway cut at the Houston Open last Friday.

The undulating Augusta National is no easy walk, but at least the Northern Irishman avoided the main heat of the day again.

His first practice session did not begin until nearly 5pm on Tuesday and he completed the back nine before 10am this morning.

Donald was the winner of the par-three competition title last year, but wanted to keep his focus on the tournament proper this time. No par-three champion has ever gone on to win the main event four days later.

Clarke started this morning with not a single spectator watching him at first. That was because the gates were kept closed for a while as damage caused by a violent late-night thunderstorm was assessed.

More downpours were expected later in the day and for the first two days of the tournament.

Tiger Woods, as per usual, was also among the early starters on the final day of practice.

Rory Can Laugh About Meltdown

Rory McIlroy says he is now able to see the funny side of his 2011 final-round nightmare at Augusta.

The 22-year-old US Open champion carried a four-stroke lead into the Sunday, but shot an eight-over-par 80 to finish on four under, 10 shy of South African winner Charl Schwartzel.

"At this stage I can laugh about it," McIlroy told BBC Radio 5 live.

“It's big coming here as a reigning major champion”Rory McIlroy on BBC Radio 5 live

He added: "One of the things I learnt was that as a person and as a golfer I wasn't ready to win the Masters."

McIlroy, who, earlier this year, became the second youngest golfer to hold the world number one spot , said a practice round on the course last week reminded him of the moment his challenge went "pear-shaped" .

"It was the first time I'd been on the course since last year and the first time I'd been on the 10th," said the Northern Ireland world number two.

"Playing the 10th brings back memories, but once you get it out of the way it's fine and you just concentrate on the week."

Of the 10th hole, where he drove his tee shot into the area near the cabins, he added: "I said at the news conference that I didn't realise how close to tee-box those cabins were. I thought they were a lot further down the fairway. It's nice to be able to laugh about it."

McIlroy was still one ahead heading up to the hole but then recorded a triple-bogey, bogey and double-bogey.

The Holywood player said his US Open triumph at Bethsheba in June 2011 helped ease the pain of Augusta.

"It's big coming here as a reigning major champion," he continued.

"I didn't know what was going to happen after this time last year. I didn't know whether it was going to have an effect or whether I would bounce back.

"But I was able to bounce back straight away. It's great to win a major, but to win so soon after what happened here [at Augusta] is extra special."

It is set to be another hotly-contested tournament and McIlroy believes 14-major winner Tiger Woods's return to form will add to the excitement.

“If he ends up learning this golf course I think he's going to win here a number of times”Phil Mickelson on McIlroy

"So many players are playing well and Tiger's back near the top of his game. This week could be one of the best Masters for a long time," he added.

McIlroy has also been awarded the European Tour's Golfer of the Month award for March after winning the Honda Classic in Florida to become the second youngest holder of the world number one title.

"It's always nice to receive these plaudits and honours," he said. "There were a couple of guys in with a great chance last month, so it's nice to come out on top."

Meanwhile, three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson has spoken in glowing terms of McIlroy's ability and believes the Irishman also has the ability to win the tournament several times.

"I think that he's an incredible player," said Mickelson, who won his first major at Augusta in 2004.

"That you could tell when he first came out. I think, like everybody here, you can see his talent and his ability. He plays without fear, which is a great way to play.

"When you get soft conditions like at the US Open he's going to light it up - and I think that he's going to continue his great play.

"If he ends up learning this golf course I think he's going to win here a number of times."