Old master Fred eyes ‘biggest upset in golf history’

FRED COUPLES moved into contention at the Masters last night and said becoming the oldest winner of a major would be the “the biggest upset in golf history.”

Couples, the 1992 Masters champion who caused a stir a year ago at the age of 50 when he placed fifth behind champion Phil Mickelson, defied a famously bad back at Augusta National yesterday to shoot a four-under-par 68 and move to five under par at the halfway stage of the first major of the year.

Yet with Rory McIlroy threatening to build on his first round co-lead and a host of players gathering behind him for a weekend title chase, Couples poured scorn on the idea that he could eclipse Julius Boros as the oldest major winner, Boros having won the 1968 PGA Championship at the age of 48.

Asked what a Masters victory tomorrow night would mean, a laughing Couples replied: “Retiring, is what it would be. I would be gone.

“You know, it would be the biggest upset in it golf history. So, sure, are you kidding?”

On the 25th anniversary of Jack Nicklaus’s win here at the age of 46, Couple also said he doubted he could pull off a repeat of the Golden Bear’s feats of 1986.

“Six years ago maybe. You know, I mean, could I win? Of course. Am I looking forward to playing tomorrow? Yeah, you’d better believe it.

“So realistically, I figure I have to get somewhere, nine more birdies without many bogeys. I mean, 14-under; so today was a great round to make it a thrill-seeking Saturday for me.

“But can I still win? This would be the only Tour event that I probably could still win. Riviera I had a great shot, and that’s probably the number two.

“But yeah, I think I can go out tomorrow and shoot a very good score, and then I’d have to do something crazy on Sunday, also.”

Couples had shot a one-under 71 on Thursday in the first round and complained that his back had made it hard-going, which made his five-birdie, one-bogey 68 yesterday even harder to explain.

“Yesterday I hit the ball very solid and today I hit it just a little bit better. I would say playing four or three hours earlier in the morning, the course was — I hate to use the word, a little easier than playing at two o’clock or one o’clock. Here, I would be playing even as a cripple, I love this place.”