Why does Fred Couples love Augusta National? He gives an ‘idiot' answer

Idiot question. Maybe it shouldn’t have been asked. Not after Thursday, when he rewound the clock for 14/18ths of his Masters first round, only to be clocked on the par-5 15th (quadruple bogey), the par-3 16th (double bogey) and the par-4 17th (double bogey).

Nine-five-four. You dial that on a phone, but never on a golf course, should you want to answer the bell. Maybe the idiot question shouldn’t have been asked following the cruel occurrences on the par-3 12th and the 15th.

Thirty-four years ago on 12, his ball somehow took a seat on the upslope to the green, leaving Rae’s Creek thirsty. This Friday, after he backed away a couple of times before swinging, his ball landed around that same area, took around the same number of tumbles — and found the drink. On 15 on Thursday , he found the pond that defends the front of the green twice on his way to that nine.

On Friday, he dropped one ball into the water, short with a wedge. He quickly grabbed a new yellow Bridgestone, swung again and landed safely this time. “I’ve never wedged it into the water or really wedged it 15 yards over the green,” Couples said.