Justin Thomas hits first hole-in-one at Masters Par 3 and slyly hints at winning big bet

Callum Vurley
Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:05:24 +0000

Justin Thomas wasted absolutely no time creating a viral moment at this year's Masters Par 3 Contest.

The American golfer sank a stunning hole-in-one on just the second hole of the afternoon, and his celebration was pure gold.

Rather than turning to embrace his wife and children who were watching behind him, Thomas immediately spun around to face playing partners Jordan Spieth and Max Homa.

What followed was brilliant – he flashed money signs at the pair, rubbing his fingers together in a gesture that screamed "pay up."

It was the first ace of the day at Augusta National, and Thomas clearly had more than just bragging rights on his mind.

Speaking to ESPN's Scott Van Pelt moments after the ace, Thomas couldn't hide his delight.

"I probably enjoyed that shot a lot more than Jordan and Max did," he said with a grin.

"Maybe 1,000 times more than they did."

The cheeky comment left little doubt that some sort of friendly wager was in play between the three Americans.

It's unclear exactly how the bet was structured – whether Spieth and Homa each owe Thomas a grand, or if they're splitting the total between them.

Either way, it only took two holes for Thomas to cash in on whatever arrangement the trio had cooked up before teeing off.

The ace arrived just minutes into the 64th edition of this cherished Augusta tradition, which dates all the way back to 1960 when Sam Snead claimed the inaugural title.

Thomas's knockdown wedge initially looked like it might roll past the hole, but the spin he'd put on the ball finally kicked in.

What a way to start the Par 3 Contest. Hole-in-one for Justin Thomas on No. 2. #themasters pic.twitter.com/HHx7hFP73A
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 8, 2026

It bounced three times on the green before rolling back towards the cup and dropping in.

His family, positioned just behind the tee box, erupted in applause – though they had to wait their turn for a celebration while Thomas finished his playful taunting of Spieth and Homa.

There have now been 116 holes-in-one in the competition's history.