Veterans stay near top of pack
Couples, Crenshaw pull into contention
Fred Couples is long enough to win at the elongated Augusta National Golf Club.
So said Jack Nicklaus on Wednesday.
Sure enough, Couples drove his way into early contention at the Masters Tournament on Thursday. He shot 1-under-par 71, birdieing two par-5s, and is tied for eighth heading into today's round.
"It was tough out there," Couples said. "I hit it extremely well. The birdies I had were all couple-footers."
Couples is one of nine former Masters champions within 10 shots of leader Vijay Singh, who has a green jacket himself.
Phil Mickelson, Mike Weir and Ben Crenshaw all finished under par.
Couples and Crenshaw are the surprises in the group. Crenshaw shot 1-under-par 71, his best round at Augusta since he won the tournament in 1995.
Crenshaw has missed the cut in nine of the 10 Masters since his memorable victory. That win came at age 43 and only days after the death of his mentor, legendary teacher Harvey Penick.
Crenshaw used his putter to make four birdies in the opening round, including a 50-foot "bomb" at No. 16. He needed only 24 putts and played the round without a three-putt.
He left one of his playing partners, Trevor Immelman, in awe. The 26-year-old remembers watching Crenshaw putt his way to Masters titles in 1984 and 1995. And as Crenshaw lined up a 15-foot par putt at No. 1, Immelman whispered to his caddie.
"I've been waiting for this for a long time," Immelman told Neil Wallace.
Crenshaw proceeded to drain the shot.
Crenshaw admitted his chances of remaining in contention on the weekend are "doubtful."
That's not so for 46-year-old Couples, who already has a fourth-place finish at the Nissan Open earlier this year and a tie for ninth at the Johnnie Walker Classic in Australia.
He hit nine of 14 fairways and 15 greens in his opening round. He struggled with the putter, three-putting twice.
His length - he averaged 303 yards off the tee - helped offset his trouble around the greens.
"If you hit the ball a long way, you have a bit of an advantage," Couples said. "I can't imagine the course plays any easier than this the rest of the week. It was playing fast and hard."
Two other 40-somethings, Larry Mize and Jose Maria Olazabal, played respectably Thursday.
Mize, the 1987 champ, shot 3-over-par 75. Olazabal, a two-time winner in 1994 and 1999, finished at 4-over.
Gary Player starred among the super seniors. He turned 70 in November and shot 7-over-par 79.
"When you get to 70, if you can break 80, I consider that a victory," Player said. "I shot 79 with four three-putts."
Reach Adam Van Brimmer at (404) 589-8424 or at adam.vanbrimmer@morris.com.
