Fred Couples falls victim to Augusta's second nine in Masters first round
•Yahoo Sports
Fred Couples struggled on the second-nine Thursday in his 2026 Masters Tournament first round, hitting multiple shots in into the water.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Fred Couples was coasting. Competing in his 41st Masters Tournament , Freddie was 2-under after 14 holes before electing to lay-up at the par-5 15th.
Then, splash. Next shot? Liquid again.
LEADERBOARD: 2026 Masters scores, tee times, videos Couples carded a 9 on No. 15 and compounded the damage at the 16th with another water ball. In all, the 1992 Champ played Nos.
15-17 in 8-over. He posted an opening round 78 after a pair of closing double bogeys. “I actually had a perfect yardage,” Couples said of his 90-yard third shot at No.