Fred Couples makes Masters history with incredible opening round

Sixty-five year old Fred Couples opened the 2025 Masters with one terrific score.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Is it 1995 or 2025? Whatever the case, Fred Couples, the 1992 Masters champion, signed for a 1-under 71 on Thursday at Augusta National.

According to Justin Ray of The Athletic, Couples’ under-par score during the first round came 42 years after the first time he posted a round in red figures. That surpasses the previous record set by Jack Nicklaus, whose first under-par came in 1960 while his final came in 2000.

“I played pretty well. I did hole a shot and really undercut a shot on 13 and made a great six, which is a big boost. I hit most of the fairways and drove it well,” Couples said.

“Got a little windy and chipped a little bit better than I normally do around here. I hit two really, really good shots on 1. I don’t know if anyone saw it. Flew right by the hole and trickled and trickled down the embankment down where you don’t want to ever be left. And I holed it. Putted it up in into the hole for birdie.”

Couples had two tantalizing highlights, the first coming on the opening hole, where he chipped in for birdie.

Then, on the par-4 14th, immediately after he bogied the par-5 13th, Couples hooped one in from 186 yards out for an eagle two.

“I thought I had enough to get over [the ridge] and then they went crazy,” Couples said of his second on 14.

“You know, it was fun. I don’t know if I’ve ever — have I ever had an eagle on the par-4 here? I don’t think so. I wouldn’t know. Nothing jumps in.”

He could not see his ball go in, but the biggest roar of the day confirmed that it did.

“When they start to go like that, and then they roar pretty loud, [you know],” Couples added.

Of every player who has played 100 rounds or more at Augusta, Couples ranks fourth on the all-time scoring average list. He trails only Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Phil Mickelson, boasting a remarkable 72.41 average. That ranks better than Tom Watson and Bernhard Langer, who have each won two Green Jackets apiece.

“I’ve been saying it for 40 years, I just love the course,” Couples added.

“I can play around here. If the weather is like this and not hard, I can — as long as I don’t do crazy things, I can shoot 73 or 4 or 5. That’s not embarrassing myself at all. If I do that, if I did that today and come back with 70 or 71 tomorrow, the goal for me is to make the cut. Same with Langer. Any other ancient guys? [Angel] Cabrera. That’s really our goal. When I was 50 or 51, I actually thought I could do really well, and did a lot of times. Today is a hell of a round. I am exhausted. I’ll tell you what.”

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Follow him on X @jack_milko.