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1988 Masters champion Sandy Lyle won the par-three tournament at Augusta National with a score of five-under-par.Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

No winner of the par-three tournament has ever won the Masters in the same year, and it looks as though the tradition will continue.

Sandy Lyle, the 1988 champion, won Wednesday’s family-friendly par-three tournament with a five-under-par score. The 61-year-old hasn’t made a cut at Augusta the past four years.

Devon Bling, a UCLA sophomore and U.S. Amateur runner-up, finished in a three-way tie with Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer for second. Bling was one of four players to make an ace.

Bling three-putted the final hole to lose his chance.

NEW STUFF

Augusta National is building a golf club that Bobby Jones might not recognize.

This year players found the tee on the fifth hole pushed back 40 yards, the fairway regraded and the green flattened out. Fans may not notice the difference, but players say they are hitting hybrids at times to the green when the wind is blowing against them.

Next up? Well, how about a tunnel under the main road that fronts the golf course?

Masters chairman Fred Ridley said the tunnel is under consideration, and can be constructed without closing down Washington Road, which is lined by restaurants and other businesses. On the other side, he said, would be a large broadcasting compound and possibly more.

The move is just the latest in a series of revisions to the club over recent years, including a new driving range, press centre and merchandise area.

WOODS MOVING UP

Tiger Woods is moving up the leaderboard at the Las Vegas sports books.

Woods had been a 14-to-1 pick to win his fifth Masters – and first since 2005 – but is now a 10-to-1 pick along with Dustin Johnson to win the green jacket at the William Hill books.

That’s behind Rory McIlroy, the favourite at 7 to 1. The odds on Woods shifted after a bettor put US$85,000 on him at 14 to 1, which will be a payoff of US$1.19-million should he win.

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