LONDON, March 29 (Reuters) - Grand Slam-chasing Rory McIlroy will not play the traditional Par 3 contest on the eve of next week's U.S. Masters because it is "just too much hassle".
The Northern Irishman described the relaxed nine-hole event as "a bit of a distraction" as he tries to land a fifth major and a first at Augusta to complete the set of all four of golf's main titles.
The 26-year-old last skipped the Par 3 contest in 2011, the year he led the Masters by four shots going into the last day before collapsing to a final-round 80 to finish 15th.