Bubba Watson hits hole-in-one on No. 16 during practice

Long before Bubba Watson hit his first shot at Wednesday’s Par-3 Contest, he had patrons screaming his name.

A hole-in-one was the reason why.

Around 9 a.m., the defending Masters Tournament champion caused a roar to echo through the pines when he aced No. 16, the 170-yard par-3.

Once Watson left the tee box, he dished out several high-fives.

“It was nice,” Watson said of the shot as he walked away from the Par-3 Contest.

Watson made sure to tell his wife, Angie, of his ace while playing a practice round with Rickie Fowler and Scott Piercy.

“I didn’t see it, but he told me about it and said it was cool,” said Angie, who along with 1-year-old son Caleb caddied for Watson during the Par-3 Contest. “He said anytime whether it’s a practice round, or real, it’s cool to have one.”

Playing in a threesome behind Watson on Wednesday morning was Tiger Woods, Keegan Bradley and Fred Couples. Couples has never had a hole-in-one during his 29 years of practice and tournament rounds at the Masters.

“We heard it,” Couples said. “They were right in front of us. Anytime you get a hole-in-one it’s awesome. Everybody is going to say he should have saved it. But he’s out there practicing, hits a good shot and it went in.”

Watson is scheduled to tee off at 10:34 a.m. Thursday with Ian Poulter and amateur Steven Fox.