It was apt that Fred Couples had to wait until Saturday 8th April 2023 to make it official that he was attempting to break a Masters record that represents generational longevity. The sweet-swinging 63-year-old became the oldest player to make the cut in the history of the Masters, carding rounds of 71-74 at Augusta National for a 1-over total through 36 holes.
When play was halted Friday afternoon owing to storms that toppled trees, Couples was in the 18th fairway. He prepared well for a final bogey on Saturday morning that solidified his reputation at Augusta National.
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Fred Couples Long Wait
Couples, the 1992 Masters champion, surpasses Bernhard Langer's prior mark in 2020 (63 years, 78 days). Saturday commemorated 63 years, 187 days since Couples' date of birth.
Couples said early on Saturday, "I am thrilled to have made the cut. "That's why I'm here; that was my goal, and I achieved it. I can fool around and play 36 holes for fun. That's not how it works. I'll make an effort to compete. I can compete with myself, and that's really why I'm here, even though I can't compete with Viktor Hovland, Jon Rahm, or anyone else. Making the cut here at a later age is what I like to do."
Fred Couples Augusta National Experience
Couples, who made the cut in 23 straight Masters appearances between 1983 and 2007 (sharing the record with Gary Player and currently Tiger Woods), has long enjoyed imparting knowledge and insight about Augusta National to younger golfers. Earlier this week, Tiger Woods spoke warmly of first encountering Couples at the Masters when he was an amateur in the mid-1990s. Tom Kim, who is more than forty years younger than him, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, and of course Woods were his practice-round teammates prior to this week competition.
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Fred Couples Extensive PGA Tour Resume
Couples, a native of Seattle, Washington, has triumphed 14 times on the PGA TOUR Champions and 15 times on the PGA TOUR. He gained notoriety when he won the SAS Championship last autumn after shooting a final-round 60. Woods and Thomas were among those who were watching and were eager to congratulate.
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