Golf: Izawa curses using up his luck

Nick Price carried an Augusta jinx into the Masters today - and Japan’s Toshi Izawa was hoping he had not already used up all his luck.

Izawa, paired with Tiger Woods in the first two rounds of the tournament proper, holed-in-one at the 130-yard fifth during the eve-of-tournament par three competition yesterday and then did it again on the 140-yard sixth.

It was the first time there had been back-to-back aces in the fun event since Claude Harmon did it in 1968.

Price took the title, though, when he beat Mark Calcavecchia in a play-off after both had posted five-under-par scores of 22 over the nine-hole short course which adjoins the championship lay-out.

But the Zimbabwean is only too aware that no par three winner has ever become champion four days later.

Izawa said: ‘‘I didn’t see the first one go in the hole, but I did the second.

‘‘They came too early I don’t want to use up all of my luck in the par three. I want to save some for the tournament.’’

He did not come even close to winning the competition because he had taken seven on the 130-yard fourth. But following the two aces he did chip in at the 115-yard seventh.

There were a record five holes-in-one in all, the others coming from Stewart Cink, Kirk Triplett and 48-year-old Jerry Pate, who while not playing in the Masters was invited to the par three event as a former major winner.