Fred Couples' consecutive cut streak at the Masters Tournament was in danger last year.

After switching to a new back therapist, Fred Couples has been able to play in seven tournaments this season. The 1992 Masters champion, who is tied with Gary Player at 23 consecutive cuts made, thinks he can be a contender at Augusta National. (Jackie Ricciardi/Staff)

Because his chronic ailing back was worse than ever, Couples had played just two rounds all season leading into the 71st Masters. The only reason he teed it up at Augusta National Golf Club is because the Masters is his favorite tournament.

"That was as (rusty) as I've ever been," Couples said. "I made the cut on the number at 8-over. That was lucky. The course played hard and I wasn't feeling good. I don't think I've ever gone there except for last year worrying about making the cut, or for that matter, really any tournament."

This year he has a new back therapist and is swinging like the Couples of old. He has played in seven events, counting the Houston Open, which ends today, and has one top-10 finish, at the Buick Invitational. Couples was the first-round co-leader in the Arnold Palmer Invitational in mid-March with 65, but he couldn't keep it going and tied for 64th place.

"I'll be in a better mood than just being there and slapping it around," Couples said, referring to the 2007 Masters, where he tied for 30th place. "I got through it last year all right, so I'm looking forward to it. I'm feeling capable of playing."

If he makes the cut this week, Couples will break the record for cuts made in successive Masters appearances. He shares it with Gary Player at 23 in a row. Player's streak ended in 1983, when he missed the cut by four shots. Coincidentally, 1983 is the year Couples' streak started.

"When I get there this year, obviously everyone is going to talk about that, but I can tell you right now my goal is not really to make the cut," he said. "It's to play very, very well."

Couples is just two years removed from playing in the final group in the final round of the Masters. He outplayed playing partner and eventual winner Phil Mickelson but lost it on the greens and tied for third.

"I can still win there," said Couples, who donned a green jacket in 1992.

If the 48-year-old does win, he will be the oldest Masters champion. Jack Nicklaus was 46 when he won in 1986.

"He feels better; he feels better than he has in a while," said Couples' longtime caddie, Joe LaCava. "That's a good sign. And he always gets up for that one. He definitely could be a threat."

"He putts the course very well," LaCava said. "He knows all the different angles on the greens. He's money on the greens."

Adam Scott was in a foursome for an early practice round with Couples on March 17 at Augusta National.

"You watch that guy hit it on automatic pilot on the front nine, he just knew exactly where to hit every shot," Scott said. "Even the ones that didn't look great finished right under the hole in a good spot. You know, he knows what he's doing around there."

Couples isn't fond of talking about the cut streak.

"It would be better not to worry about that and play better in it," he said. "That's what I have going. It's nice, but it's a lot better playing with Phil in the last group or whatever than worrying about that stuff."

How does he explain the streak?

"You miss a lot of cuts because you're not playing well," Couples said. "But Augusta, I think, brings something out in me even when I'm not playing well."

Last year was a perfect example.

"I went in there playing two rounds of golf and I shot 76-76, but I played pretty well to shoot that. And then I had 71 (with six birdies) the last day," Couples said.

Looking back on his Masters career, Couples wasn't even sure he'd make it back after his 1983 debut. After opening with 73-68 to make the cut by six shots, he was paired in third round with Tom Watson, the 1977 and 1981 Masters champion.

"I couldn't keep up with him," Couples said. "I think I shot 81, and I thought, 'Wow, what a great experience. Hopefully, I'll get back here some day.' And then 20 whatever years later, I keep going back."

Couples did shoot 81 that day, while Watson had 71. Couples had 73 in the final round to finish tied for 32nd.

He earned a return trip to Augusta in 1984 by winning the 1983 Kemper Open. It was the first of 15 tour victories for Couples.

The only year he didn't qualify for Augusta was in 1987.

Couples' back problem dates back to 1994 when it went out on him at Doral. That was early in the season, and the injury forced him to miss the Masters. He returned to Augusta National in 1995 and picked up his streak.

He's battled back problems ever since, but with help from back specialist Tom Boers, he had been able to compete on the tour until 2007, when his back went out on him twice. The FBR Classic early in the season and the Masters were the only PGA Tour events he played in.

He started working with another back specialist, John Patterson, in September and hasn't had any flareups.

"Even when I play, I don't fear my back," he said. "My back will go out and when it does, I'll know, and where I hit the ball will know and everything else will know."

Reach David Westin at (706) 724-0851 or david.westin@augustachronicle.com.