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Former Major League Baseball star Ken Griffey Jr. is in Augusta this week at The Masters. He is not attending as a patron, however. Instead, he’s on hand as a credentialed photographer.
Photography has been a passion of the Hall of Famer’s for some time. He spoke on that interest while sitting down with the Mornings at The Masters crew.
Griffey says his daughter is responsible for the hobby. “[Photography] was actually the only way I could see my kids,” he recalled. “I was still playing. I understand what my dad felt like coming to watch me play. But now, with social media, it’s a little different…
“My daughter literally stopped dribbling a basketball and just looked at me when she was five. I was like, ‘Okay, I’ve got to pay more attention to what’s going on.’ I figured, nobody’s messing with the photographer. Let me pick it up.”
Ken Griffey Jr.’s previously gone viral while being spotted at professional sporting events. He was at the MLB All-Star Game in Seattle in 2023. Later that summer, he snapped a few photos of Lionel Messi at an Inter Miami match.
He’s not the only former Seattle Mariner to pick up photography. Pitcher Randy Johnson’s passion has been widely discussed following his retirement in 2009. Griffey’s following suit.
Pictures weren’t the only topic of discussion on Thursday at The Masters, though. The former MLB outfielder did his part to settle a heated golf debate about holes-in-one, too.
Do holes-in-one count on Par 3 courses? Ken Griffey Jr. says, ‘No.’
There is a debate amongst casual golfers about the validity of holes-in-one at Par 3 courses. Do they count? Should they be celebrated? Some say yes. Others disagree.
There are those that believe an ace is an ace, no matter the location. Others insist that aces are only aces when Par 3’s are few and far between. Golf.com agrees with the latter. Par 3 course play was included in the site’s list of 21 different scenarios where a hole-in-one “absolutely doesn’t count.”
Ken Griffey Jr. sided with the “no” crowd. Par 3 course holes-in-one DON’T count!
“Par 3 holes-in-one don’t count. They’ve got an asterisk behind them… Do my home runs count in a home run derby?”
The slugger compared Par 3 courses to Home Run Derbies. Technically, you’re playing a round of golf, just like you’re stepping into the box against a live pitcher. It’s not the same, though!
Griffey did his best to settle the debate. Par 3 holes-in-one are not real aces.