Masters crowd erupts as McIlroy, Fleetwood kids charm spectators
What happens when the sport’s stars share the course with their smallest fans? At the Masters Par Three contest, the answer came in grins, splashes and loud applause as the Masters family took center stage.
Young Frankie Fleetwood was the day’s emotional center. “Well, I’ve been doing my hardest to get it over the green,” he said, adding: “I’ve been practicing as hard as I can, just not reaching it this year. But I’m just trying my hardest.” The youngster had been working on his swing on the driving range throughout the year and spoke often as he made his way to the ninth hole. “I just feel happy, I just want to get it over the water for them,” Frankie said before stepping up to the tee (Photo: US News Hub Misryoum).
Frankie drove with confidence, but the ball narrowly missed the green and splashed into the water. The gallery that followed the group around the course cheered and urged the youngsters forward. Lowry’s daughter Iris went next and also saw her ball trickle into the hazard. Frankie’s second attempt fell similarly short, yet high-fives were exchanged and he left the tee beaming.
Poppy McIlroy nearly holed a putt on the green, turning the moment into a warm family embrace before they moved on. The mingling of elite players and their children felt less like spectacle and more like a shared rite — a reminder that for many competitors this tournament is as much about family memory-making as it is about the leaderboard.
Take note of how these brief scenes shape public feeling: they humanize the players and widen interest beyond conventional golf fans.
Tommy Fleetwood, who earlier celebrated a hole in one on the fourth hole (Photo: US News Hub Misryoum), was asked about his son’s efforts. “He obviously very positively thinks he can. As long as he hits a good shot, I’m kind of OK with it.” He continued: “I’m excited to go there, I’m excited to play. Frankie, you know, will be trying his hardest. We’ve had conversations. Frankie is very set on what he’s doing. He’s very excited, and he knows what he’s doing.” He described the Par Three as uniquely meaningful: “I always say one of the most special things about the Masters is for us as players.” Fleetwood added, “Having something so unique as something that’s so special for the family right before it on a Wednesday, I just think is amazing. I think it’s one of the most special things about the week.”
Fleetwood noted the continuity the event brings. His youngest son has attended all but one of Tommy’s previous nine Masters appearances. “Yeah, we talk about it all the time,” the Southport-born golfer said. “Frankie’s growing up. Every year you see him get that little bit older at the Masters. I think more than anything the pressure is on me to keep making the Masters until he reaches the green on the ninth.” That admission frames the tournament as part family tradition, part personal mission for players who balance career goals and parenthood.
By the afternoon’s end, the Masters family atmosphere had done more than produce a few viral clips. It softened the competitive edges and offered a narrative that tournament organizers can lean into: moments like these expand the event’s reach and create lasting images that outlive scores. For fans and players alike, the Par Three remains a small stage with outsized emotional payoff.
For anyone watching, the contest reinforced why these midweek rituals are cherished. The crowd reaction, the children’s smiles and the players’ pride all underscored the enduring power of the Masters family to capture attention and affection.