Fred Couples, 65, Shoots 1-Under at Augusta and Reminds the World Why He’s a Legend

There are certain players in golf who just feel right at Augusta National. Fred Couples is one of them. The swing, the stride, the calm—it’s all still there. On Thursday, the 1992 Masters champion, now 65 years old, proved once again why he’s still one of the most beloved figures in the sport.

In his 40th appearance at the Masters, Couples turned back the clock with a 1-under-par 71, becoming the second-oldest player ever to shoot under par in a Masters round. The only one older? Tom Watson—by just one month.

“It was a hell of a round,” Couples said with a grin afterward. “I’m exhausted, but man, that was fun.”

Outgunned but Not Outclassed

Let’s get something straight: Freddie isn’t outdriving anyone anymore. The game’s changed. Augusta has changed. The young guys are blasting it 320 yards with ease while Couples is cruising along at around 275 yards off the tee. That’s a 40- to 50-yard gap, sometimes more.

But while others bomb it, Couples plays the kind of golf that made him a legend in the first place—smart, steady, and totally unbothered.

“I know I’m hitting four more clubs than the kids,” he said, chuckling. “But I’ve played here a lot. I know where to hit it, and more importantly, where not to hit it.”

His tee shots were nearly automatic—12 of 14 fairways found. And while his approach shots had to be more strategic than aggressive (he only hit 7 greens in regulation), his touch around the greens and sheer course knowledge carried the day.

The Shot of the Day—and Maybe the Tournament

Couples’ round had several vintage moments, but one stood above the rest.

On hole 14, sitting 186 yards from the pin, Couples pulled out a 6-hybrid—a club most of today’s players wouldn’t even carry—and flushed it. The ball landed softly, tracked toward the hole, and dropped in. Eagle. The crowd erupted.

“I couldn’t even see it go in,” he said. “But when they started yelling, I knew something good happened. That was sweet. I gave the club a kiss. Had to.”

It was classic Freddie. No fist pump. No scream. Just a smile, a club kiss, and a memory for the fans—and himself.

Playing Hurt, Playing Free

Last year was rough. Couples missed the cut after rounds of 80 and 76. He wasn’t healthy, physically or mentally. He had multiple cortisone shots in his back and admitted that he could barely swing without pain.

“I shouldn’t have played,” he said. “But it’s Augusta. I didn’t want to miss it. Even in pain, I wanted to be here.”

This year, things feel different. His body’s not perfect—he’s 65, after all—but it’s holding up. More importantly, he’s finally got a set of clubs that fits where his game is now. His bag looks more like something out of a hybrid-only demo day. He’s rocking four rescue clubs, and his first iron is a 7-iron.

“I’ve got a lot of head covers now,” he laughed. “But you know what? I can hit all of them. And I can hit them here.”

That’s all he really wants. He knows he’s not winning this thing. But if he can swing freely and enjoy Augusta without pain, that’s the win.

Old Dog, New Tricks

Couples has always had a silky smooth swing, but even that isn’t enough at a 7,500-yard Augusta. So he’s had to get crafty. On the first hole, after missing the green long and left, he faced a tricky up-and-down from a tight lie. Most players would chip it.

Freddie? He pulled out his putter from 48 feet away—and sank it for birdie.

It was part skill, part feel, and part instinct that only comes from playing this place 40 times.

“I knew it was the right play,” he said. “And once I hit it, I thought, ‘Oh man, that might go in.’ And then it did.”

Later, he’d knock in a 7-footer for birdie on the 9th to go 2-under. He gave a tiny fist bump and moved on, never letting the moment get too big.

Source: Fred Couples, 65, is 2nd-oldest to break par at the Masters

All About the Cut

Fred Couples isn’t chasing a green jacket. He’s chasing something a little smaller but just as meaningful: the weekend.

Two years ago, he made the cut at Augusta, becoming the oldest player in Masters history to do so. Now, he wants to do it again. And if Thursday was any indication, he just might.

“Tomorrow’s a new day,” he said. “Could shoot 75, could shoot 70. But today, I gave myself a chance.”

He knows the course can bite back. One missed spot on the wrong green can turn a round upside down. But he’s got the right mindset: stay patient, enjoy the walk, and maybe—just maybe—play into the weekend one more time.

Why Freddie Still Matters

Fred Couples isn’t just a player. He’s a symbol of what makes the Masters magical. He’s been coming to Augusta since the early ’80s, and through four decades, he’s become part of the tournament’s soul.

The patrons still cheer for him like he’s a contender. Kids ask for autographs. Adults talk about where they were in 1992. And when he hits that signature tee shot, fans still whisper, “Man, that swing is so smooth.”

When he made eagle on 14, it wasn’t just noise—it was pure joy. Because everyone watching knows these moments are becoming rare. And they’re soaking up every second.

Still Here, Still Swinging

As Thursday’s round wrapped up, Fred Couples walked off 18 with his caddie, Mark Chaney. No big scene. Just a few smiles, a fist bump, and the kind of energy that says, “Yeah, I can still do this.”

“I’m tired,” he said again. “But that was a very fun day.”

At 65, Freddie’s not chasing distance or stats. He’s chasing the feeling. The feeling of walking up those fairways, of hearing the roars, of pulling off one more shot that gets the crowd to their feet.

And you know what? That might be more impressive than any trophy.

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