Masters notebook: Couples makes putt, makes the cut

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The streak began well before Fred Couples’ hair began to gray and his back began to go.

To keep it going for a record-tying 23rd year, he needed an up-and-down from 15 feet. When he made it, he let out a big sigh of relief and heard the roar of fans who love spending this weekend with him.

“I’m looking forward to playing two more rounds here,” said Couples, the winner in 1992. “The streak, I’d rather miss the cut five years ago and win last year. But to make it is great because I certainly had no vision (of playing). I played two rounds of golf this year.”

Couples finished at 8-over-par 152, right on the cut line. Because scores in the first and second rounds were so high, the 10-shot cut rule was in effect, meaning 60 players – the most since 1993 – will return for the weekend.

The 152 cut score was the highest since 1982.

“Scary, isn’t it?” former champion Fuzzy Zoeller said when told he could make the cut for the first time since 1998.

Missing was Ernie Els, who failed to make a cut in a major for the first time since the 1999 PGA Championship. It also ended the longest active cut streak on tour at 46. Jim Furyk has the longest active cut streak at 20.

Couples, 47, has struggled with a bad back for years, but never has it been worse than the last few months. His back went out during practice at Pebble Beach, and he spent the next three days in bed. When he arrived at Augusta, he hadn’t played a competitive round in two months.

He has no idea when his back might go again. He had an epidural after Pebble Beach, and will probably get another when he’s done here.

In the meantime, he puts up with throbbing pain that he likened to a toothache.

But the lack of playing time hurts his score more than the back, Couples said.

“I can almost play this course blindfolded. I can get it around, and I think that’s what I did yesterday and today,” he said. “(But) I would say this course is a little too tough for me.”

Big turnaround

Darren Clarke pulled his game together a little too late.

Even with bogeys on the last two holes, Clarke shot a 1-under 71 – a 12-stroke turnaround from the first round. But his 83 on Thursday put him 10 over for the tournament, two strokes above the cutline.

At least Clarke had a nice fallback plan.

“I’m back to the beach in the Bahamas,” Clarke said with a grin. “Bye-bye.”

First-hole jitters

Stewart Cink doesn’t need to look at the course statistics to tell you what the toughest hole is at Augusta.

The par-4 No. 1, without a doubt.

“You’re always nervous, always anxious,” Cink said. “That hole is just wicked. I think that green is the hardest out there.”

No. 1 was the ninth-toughest hole Friday. No. 1 was second-toughest Thursday.