The two players who got around Augusta in the fewest putts on Thursday? Tom Watson, 60, and Fred Couples, 50, with 24 putts each. “The six and eight foot putts that curl around feel good here at Augusta,” said Couples.
Couples’ 66 tied the Masters record for players 50 and over and made him the oldest outright leader in tournament history. Ben Hogan shot a 66 at Augusta at age 54. “This is my favorite place in the world,” said Couples, who has 10 top-10 finishes in 25 starts.
The key to the surprising first-round showing of 16-year-old amateur Matteo Manassero (71), the youngest player ever in the Masters? He hit 13 of 14 fairways, which tied for the best in the field.
With the play of Watson, Couples, and Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson nearly flew under the radar with his 67. Lefty has struggled this year, due in part, some have surmised, to the health problems of wife, Amy, who is battling cancer. This week, however, for the first time since the Players Championship last May, Amy Mickelson has made the trip, along with their three children.
