When Fred Couples won the Masters in 1992, it moved CBS announcer Jim Nantz to tears in an emotional Butler Cabin ceremony. What will happen if “Boom Boom,” his former college golf teammate at the University of Houston, wins the Masters at age 50?
Don’t scoff and don’t be surprised if Couples is alive on Sunday. He is still hitting it long – averaging 299 yards to ranking No. 1 in driving distance on the Champions Tour. And he is putting better than ever. His 1.62 putts per round ranks No. 2 on the Champions Tour.
Yes, Champions Tour greens bear little resemblance to the slick, sloped, shaved putting surfaces of Augusta National, but don’t expect the yips to revisit Couples whose confidence is at an all-time high.
Augusta suits Couples’ high-ball game. Before missing the cut the last two years, Couples was 23 of 23, with 10 top-10s, including a T3, just four years ago at age 46. Today’s 6-under-par 66 is his best round (out of 97) ever at Augusta.
So get the Kleenex ready for Nantz, he may need it at about 6 p.m. Sunday.
Tiger Update: With his second eagle of the day, it’s clear that Augusta, with four par-five holes, is still a par 68 for the world’s greatest player. With Tiger at 4-under through 16, he is on his way to breaking 70, a feat he has never accomplished in the opening round of the Masters. It’s a great leader board, but it might be dominated by Tiger by Sunday.
