AUGUSTA, Ga. — Explore the roster of legendary pairs — Sonny and Cher, Brady and Gronk, peanut butter and jelly — and at the forefront, you’ll discover Fred Couples and Augusta National. Their connection is inseparable. Couples is embarking on his 39th Masters appearance this week. Throughout his previous 38 showings, he made the cut 31 times, achieved 11 top-10 finishes, and donned the coveted green jacket once in 1992. Last year, at the age of 63, Couples became the oldest participant to advance to the weekend, comfortably surpassing the cut line by three strokes. Similar to Tiger, Phil, Vijay, Ernie, and numerous other golfers who came before them, there is an undeniable allure about this venue that brings out the finest in Fred.
Just not this year.
If you were to listen to Couples’ comments before the tournament on Tuesday, it would have been difficult to have any optimism regarding his chances in the 88th Masters. It wasn’t a question of contending or making the cut, but simply completing two rounds. Couples mentioned that he had withdrawn from the PGA Tour Champions event near his home in Newport, Southern California, due to his chronically bad back. He could only manage to endure 27 holes. Furthermore, he didn’t even participate in the event in Rancho Mirage the following week, despite living in Palm Springs. He withdrew after the pro-am.
I refrained from playing golf from Thursday, March 28 until Sunday because I didn’t have the motivation to even move. On Sunday, I managed to play, although not very skillfully, but at least I got through it.
Couples mentioned that the most difficult shots for him during practice rounds were short irons and wedges, which he found potentially painful. Due to this, he made a point to avoid hitting those clubs on the range. “I struggle with drivers and 3-woods because of the distance,” he explained. “I prefer not to warm up with an iron.”
Despite his serious condition, Couples vowed not to “humiliate myself with a poor score,” stating: “I won’t shoot an 80. It’s just not in my nature. I refuse to do that. Is it possible for me to shoot an 80? Absolutely. But I have no intention of doing so.”
Alas, as frequently occurs in this unpredictable sport, events did not unfold as anticipated.
Couples struggled on Thursday, bogeying the first par-4 hole and accumulating three more bogeys on the front nine, finishing four over par. Despite feeling uncomfortable, Couples considered quitting multiple times but decided against it to avoid disrupting the pace of his playing partners, Adam Hadwin and amateur Stewart Hagestad, who consistently outdrove Couples by 50 yards.
The final nine holes did not prove to be any easier. Couples struggled with bogeys on the 11th and 12th holes, but then managed to score a birdie on the 13th. He maintained pars on the 14th and 15th, only to finish with three consecutive bogeys. “It was quite challenging out there. I wouldn’t say it was completely unenjoyable because it’s Augusta, but my swing felt like a burden,” Couples expressed. For those who are inclined towards numbers, you may have already calculated the outcome: Couples’ total score for the round consisted of nine bogeys and one birdie, resulting in an 80 at Augusta National.
Couples faced a tough challenge: he had 18 more holes to play, and the wind was so strong that it turned Augusta National into a scene from Twister. Flagsticks were rattling, hats were rolling across fairways, and sandstorms were swirling in and around the bunkers. “It was brutal out there,” Couples would later admit.
There was positive news for Couples as he exited early at 8:48 a.m., before the wind picked up — and his scorecard reflected this. Couples began with six consecutive pars. Despite his back not feeling any better, Couples can still hit his tee shots over 300 yards on good days. However, this week he struggled to reach more than 260 yards. A highlight was his drive on Friday at the par-4 9th, leaving him with only 124 yards to the green.
Couples expressed, “I attempted to hit a 7-iron shot, but mistakenly used a 9-iron and couldn’t execute the swing properly. The ball traveled 80 yards in the air and landed short to the left of the green. It’s quite embarrassing for me. I strive not to make a fool of myself.”
Subsequently, he placed his hand on his hip and displayed a grimace.
The couple, who had a 9-wood in their bag, expressed their desire for even more woods to replace their higher-lofted irons. They mentioned that having an 11-wood would have been ideal for hitting a distance of 140 yards. They admitted struggling with an 8-iron and feeling unable to swing properly.
Despite the challenges faced, there were some positive aspects. On Friday, the couple managed to balance out six bogeys with two birdies. They expressed satisfaction with their chipping and putting skills. They completed the round with a score of 76, which was only slightly higher than the average score of the field, which stood at 74.89 during the later stages of the second round. Despite experiencing difficulties and back pain, Couples mentioned that he still enjoyed his time on the course.
Couples’ performance was criticized as “really ugly” by some, but he remains determined to continue competing in the tournament that has brought him so much success. He mentioned his plans to return in 2025 for another shot at glory, and even expressed his desire to participate in the following year as well, marking his 41st appearance at the Masters.
But first things first, Couples said: “I’ve got to get my back fixed.”
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