At 65 years of age, Fred Couples has been turning heads at this year’s Masters Tournament. He’s officially the oldest player to ever make the cut! His impressive performance included a 1-under 71 in his first round, marking him as the second-oldest player to shoot under par in any Masters round. Couples’ stunning performance once again exemplifies his legendary talent and continued mastery of the hallowed ground of Augusta National Golf Club.
Over the course of his illustrious, yet still very much active, career, Couples has played in a total of 40 Masters. Younger competitors were outdriving him off the tee by staggering margins—20, 30, even upwards of 50 yards. He relied on his deep well of course knowledge and balanced consistency with vivacity to navigate the sprawling, devilish track.
On the par-4 14th, Couples further demonstrated his iconic shot-making capabilities. He then hit a 6-hybrid that landed short of the pin and rolled directly into the hole for an eagle! Additionally, he left himself with a 7-foot putt for his second birdie of the day on the 9th hole, showcasing his adeptness on the greens.
Last year was a tough six days for Couples, as his back pain flared up at the U.S. Open and he missed the cut with an 80-76 showing. Reflecting on that experience, he stated, “Last year, I had a bunch of cortisone shots and I was really — it was the most pain I’ve ever been.” This year, he feels more equipped. “Now I have a set of clubs I feel like I can hit around here,” he added, noting that he has incorporated four rescue hybrids into his bag, which now includes “a lot of head covers.”
Couples averages just 275 yards off the tee and typically uses two to four more clubs than his contemporaries into greens. No doubt most of them were diminished by the difficulty of his task—master Augusta National.
Today is an amazing day of golf. I’m beat,” Couples said after closing out his incredible run. His grit and know how earned him a position to race in the weekend sprints. They illustrate his tremendous and irreplaceable impact in the sport.
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