Fred Couples one of oldest players to break par at Masters

Scott Hanson, The Seattle Times on Apr 10, 2025

Published in Golf

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AUGUSTA, Ga. — Seattle native Fred Couples had the shot of the day in the first round of the Masters on Thursday, holing out from 186 yards for an eagle on the 14th hole that propelled him to a 1-under 71.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had an eagle on a par-4 here before,” said Couples, 65, who hit a 6-hybrid on his hole-out. “I hit it really, really well and it just carried the ridge. I thought I had enough to get over (it) and then (the patrons) went crazy.”

Couples did not see the ball go in, but he was certain it had from the huge roars.

The 71 had Couples in a tie for 12th place with the round still going on, and he came just a month shy of being the oldest player to break par at the Masters.

Tom Watson shot a 71 in 2015 to still hold the mark at 65 years, 219 days, not that Couples was complaining.

“I’m happy as a clam,” said Couples, who at 63 is the oldest player to make the Masters cut. “I hit a lot of good shots. … It was a very fun day.”

It certainly was much different from a year ago when Couples played here despite severe back pain and opened with an 80 before shooting a 76 in the second round.

Couples, who said before the tournament that his only goal was to make the cut, put himself in a good spot to do that as the top 50 plus ties get to play on the weekend.

On the way to the first tee, Couples was greeted by CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz, his roommate and golf teammate at the University of Houston, and the two men hugged.

Couples then got off to a great start, putting in for a birdie from off the green — about 50 feet he said — on the tough first hole.

Couples said he hit a “pure” putt, but said he was lucky it went in.

He made the turn at 1-under 35, then ran into trouble at Amen corner (holes 11-13). He bogeyed the tough par-4 11th, then after laying up on the par-5 13th, he hit his third shot into the water.

Couples seemed destined for a double bogey on the hole, but he made a big-swinging putt from about 15 feet for a bogey.

“I really undercut a shot on 13 (that ended in the water) and made a great 6, which kind of was a big boost,” he said.

A bigger boost came two shots later for the eagle that got him back under par. He got up-and-down from off the green on his final three holes to finish off a good round, which has him looking forward to Friday.

“I don’t think I’m going to go out there tomorrow and forget how to play,” he said.