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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Masters notebook: Couples’ lucky shot stirs memories

Ap

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Fred Couples’ luck on No. 12 at Augusta National seems to have no expiration date.

Couples got another huge break on the short and tricky hole Friday, stirring memories of his famous shot there in 1992.

Couples hit a 9-iron from 155 yards and came up short when his ball caught a gust of wind.

It landed on the embankment and started rolling toward Rae’s Creek. Somehow, it stopped.

“I got very, very lucky,” said Couples, who finished with his second straight 1-under-par 71. “Luckily I was aiming far enough left that it didn’t catch the big bank and the slope.”

Just maybe not as fortunate as he was in 1992.

Couples’ tee shot came up short back then, too, but his ball suddenly and inexplicably stopped rolling a few inches from the water.

He followed with an up-and-down for par that kept him in the hunt.

He went on to win his only Masters. He later called it the “biggest break” in his golf career.

Amazing for Grace

One day after nothing went right, Branden Grace could do no wrong.

The big hitter – and occasional wild hitter – from South Africa followed his 84 with a 3-under 69. He still missed the cut, but leaves on a happy note.

“I thought it might be comeback of the year,” Grace said. “It could have been. I had an eagle putt horseshoe out on the 15th, and missed a short one on the 16th. Oh well.”

He would have needed a 63 – or a 90 in the first round – to have matched the Masters record. Craig Wood went from an 88 to a 67 in 1936.

Youth movement

The rookies are outplaying the former champions. Five of the 24 first-timers are under par following the second round at Augusta National. Only three of the 19 past champions are in red numbers.

Rookies Jonas Blixt (3-under 141), Jordan Spieth (141), Jimmy Walker (142), Stephen Gallacher (143) and Kevin Stadler (143) accomplished the feat.

Divots

1987 Masters champion Larry Mize made his first cut in five years, firing a 72 to sit at 2 over. … Oliver Goss shot 71 to get to 3 over, marking the fifth straight year an amateur made the cut. … Marc Leishman opened Friday with three consecutive birdies to take the lead. He played the next 12 holes at 10 over, missing the cut.