AUGUSTA — Before the hardcore golf gets going in Thursday’s first round of the Masters, there was time for some lighthearted fun in the Par 3 Contest at Augusta National.

Comedian Kevin Hart made an appearance as the caddie for Bryson DeChambeau while former NFL star Jason Kelce carried the bag for Akshay Bhatia.

Of course, that brought some laughter and jokes with it.

“I am not Kevin Hart, the global superstar, today. Please get that out of your mental. Not the movie star, the stand-up comedian that everybody knows around the world. Throw it in the bag,” Hart said on the ESPN broadcast. “Today, I am Bryson’s caddie.”

DeChambeau said that he and Hart connected while shooting a video a couple of months ago, and that led to the idea of doing something fun together for the Par 3 Contest.

“We’ve been talking a lot about golf. He’s gotten into it over the past seven months, and he’s become a superstar in his own right on the greens, by the way,” DeChambeau said.

Kelce drew some laughs when he tried to read a putt and got down on the green on his stomach. He gave his best advice to Bhatia, who missed the putt.

“Just give it a little tush push and it’ll be on, I promise you,” Kelce said.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Actor Kevin Hart, left, and Bryson DeChambeau laugh during par-3 contest ahead of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Credit: AP

Featured

Buc-ee's officially broke ground Tuesday on a new location, which will be the chain's fourth store in Georgia, in Monroe County in Middle Georgia. (Joe Kovac Jr. / AJC)

Credit: Joe Kovac Jr.