Augusta, GA (Best E Casino) - South African Rory Sabbatini captured the Par- Three Tournament at the Masters on Wednesday with a five-under-par 22. Sabbatini, who sank a long birdie putt on his final hole, finished one clear of Woody Austin and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

That's the good news. The bad news for Sabbatini, who tied for second last year at the Masters, is that in the 48-year history of the Par-Three Tournament, no player has won that, then donned the green jacket in the same year.

Sabbatini played with 1998 Masters champion Mark O'Meara and 1975 U.S. Amateur champion and former president of the USGA, Fred Ridley.

There were four aces on Wednesday. Paul Azinger aced the second hole from 70 yards, former Masters champion Charles Coody sank his tee shot on the third from 90 yards, Fred Couples, the 1992 Masters winner holed out at the 115-yard seventh and Wayne Grady aced the 135-yard, par-three ninth. The four holes-in- one were one shy of the all-time mark of five set in 2002.

The most exciting pairing of the day belonged to the group of Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus. The "Big-3" have combined for 13 Masters titles. Palmer's first shot set up a two-foot birdie on the opening hole. Nicklaus nearly aced the second hole, as he put his tee shot seven inches away. Player will set a new record when he tees off on Thursday with his 51st start at the Masters.

The Par-Three contest course (par-27, 1,060 yards) was built in 1958. Tournament participants, non-competing past champions, and honorary invitees are invited to participate.

The nine hole course is played over DeSoto Springs Pond and Ike's Pond. In 1987, current hole Nos. 8 and 9 were added over Ike's Pond, eliminating holes 1 and 2 of the original course from the competition.