Couples makes history

Fred Couples today became the oldest player to lead at the halfway stage of The Masters.

In 1989 Lee Trevino was 49 when he jointly led with Nick Faldo, who went on to win, but Couples is 52.

He is not the oldest to lead after any round, however. Jack Nicklaus was 53 when he was part of a five-way tie on the opening day in 1993.

Nicklaus became the tournament’s oldest ever winner at 46 in 1986, while 48-year-old Julius Boros is the oldest winner of any major.

Three years ago, of course, 59-year-old Tom Watson was one putt away from lifting The Open at Turnberry, but missed it and lost a play-off to Stewart Cink.