Like father, like daughter - Poppy McIlroy steals the show at Masters Par 3 Contest

Poppy McIlroy was the star of the show as she made a monster putt with the help of dad Rory at the Masters Par 3 Contest.

The traditional curtain-raiser to the season's opening Major Championship sees players from the field and former champions take on a short nine-hole course, with family and fun at the forefront of proceedings.

And on the final hole, after dad had helped her line it up, four-year-old Poppy sent a slow snaking putt on its way down the hill towrds the hole, wiith a crowd of patrons watching on.

Shane Lowry stated "this is alright" as it made its way and had his arms aloft before the ball found the bottom of the cup, sparking wild celebrations on around the green.

Poppy herself did not seem too impressed by all the fuss but all was soon well after a cuddle from dad and mum Erica.

“Yeah, very cool,” McIlroy said when asked about that moment.

“It’s just such a fun afternoon. Being out there with Shane and Tommy (Fleetwood) and their families, we’re all very, very close, so to have the kids out there and them having fun is the most important thing.

“It’s a really nice way to sort of end the preparation going into what is the serious part of the week. So it’s nice to be able to get out here and do this.”

Colombia’s Nico Echavarria faces an extra hurdle to overcome in his bid to claim a first Major title after winning the Par 3 Contest.

Echavarria birdied the second extra hole to beat American JJ Spaun in a play-off after the pair completed the course in the grounds of Augusta National in five under par.

Since the contest started in 1960, nobody has ever become Par 3 and Masters champion in the same week, a fact which often sees players deliberately not shoot the best score possible.

US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley and five-time Major winner Brooks Koepka both made a hole-in-one on the sixth, with fellow American Tom Hoge recording an ace on the fourth.