Fred Couples, 63, Turns Back the Clock With Opening 71 at Masters

The 1992 champion had four birdies on the back nine Thursday.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Fred Couples began his Masters career making the cut for 23 straight years, including his 1992 victory. Now at age 63, the idea of doing so again is in play for the World Golf Hall of Fame member who has struggled with back issues for years.

Couples made four birdies on the back nine at Augusta National on Thursday, a disappointing three-putt bogey at the 18th having him settle for 1-under-par 71. He has not shot in the 60s here since 2013.

An under-par start for the 1992 Masters champion. #themasters pic.twitter.com/UCPGVYmQsG

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2023

“It was a good day. It was a fun day," Couples said. “I actually played really, really well, even the front. Everyone bogeys 5. I bogeyed it seven straight years now every round. And then No. 9, for some reason I cannot hit the fairway and made bogey there.

“Then the back nine was really, really good golf, and I putted really, really well on the back nine. It was like every 8-footer I had or 10-footer, I made. I made one from off the green on 17, and I three-putted 18 for bogey. But hit a good drive and a 7-iron in there. Hard to walk away with a bogey."

Couples, who last made the cut in 2018, said playing with Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas during practice rounds was a nice boost for him.

“When I get pumped up, I can drive it far enough where it gets them all excited because last year I played—I was really almost a cripple, and I was popcorning it,’’ he said. “This year I felt pretty good. So I got it within 20 yards of them a few times, which is good.

“I don’t know how old Tiger is. He's getting up there. He was blasting it. I know he struggled today a little bit, but it makes my week starting playing with those guys on Monday and Tuesday. That is a lot of fun."

It would also be a lot of fun for Couples to make the cut. And he’s given himself a chance to do so.