By Rory Carroll
AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) – Former champion Fred Couples, in his 40th Masters start, said he was dog-tired but “happy as a clam” after carding an opening-round one-under 71 at Augusta National on Thursday.
Couples, 65, raised his fist in the air and kissed his club after he holed out from 191 yards on the par-four 14th for eagle under sunny skies and in front of a delighted crowd.
He sank a 48-foot birdie putt on the par-four first to kick off an eventful outing that also included three bogeys.
“Today was a hell of a round,” he told reporters. “I am exhausted.”
The fan favorite said his goal was to make the cut at the tournament, which he won by two strokes in 1992 when he was ranked number one in the world for his lone major championship.
Past Masters champions enjoy a lifetime exemption into the tournament.
“I just love the place. I love coming here,” he said.
Couples admits that today’s “bombers” can outdrive him but it was his accuracy off the tee, where he hit 12 of 14 fairways, that kept him on track to break his own record from two years ago as the oldest player to make the cut at the Masters.
“Today I’m happy as a clam,” he said.
“I don’t know. I’m 65. I don’t feel 70. I don’t feel 50. Tomorrow it could blow, rain could be difficult but I don’t feel like I’m going to go out there and forget how to play.
“That doesn’t mean I’m not going to shoot 77. It’s a hard course. I just don’t hit it far enough to make it easier.”
Couples will look to make the cut when his group with Harris English and Taylor Pendrith takes the course for Friday’s second round.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Augusta, Georgia; editing by Clare Fallon)
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