Age is just a number for Freddie Couples.
The 65-year-old is the oldest player in the field this year and has a lifetime exemption into the tournament after winning the Masters in 1992. He started by carding a 71 to break par in the first round of the Masters on Thursday.
Couples has had plenty of success at Augusta National in his career with 11 top-10 finishes in his nearly 40 years of playing the Masters. In 2023, he became the oldest player to make the cut at the tournament at 63-years-old.
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With Couples in contention in the early going, he’s on track to be paired with players who could be 20 or 30 years younger than him on Friday. That won’t stop him from competing for another green jacket.
Here’s what to know about Fred Couples at the 2025 Masters.
How old is Fred Couples?
Couples is 65 and is the oldest player in the Masters field this year. His performance on Thursday (-1) was one for the history books and a testament to his longevity. The first time he carded a round under par at the tournament was 42 years ago, making his feat the longest time between rounds under par in Masters history.
Fred Couples, 65, has carded a 1st round 71, 42 years after he broke par here for the first time in 1983.
Longest time between rounds under par, Masters history:
Fred Couples, 42 years, 1983-2025
Jack Nicklaus, 40 years, 1960-2000
Tom Watson, 40 years, 1975-2015— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) April 10, 2025
Fred Couples Masters highlights
Couples’ first round on Thursday included plenty of awesome highlights, including an eagle on No. 14 from 191 yards away to bring out a thunderous roar from the gallery.
Into the hole from 191 yards. Fred Couples eagles No. 14! #themasters pic.twitter.com/5KD2bMUKv6
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 10, 2025
Couples was getting the crowd involved from the start of his round, rolling in a put from off the green on No. 1. The Masters veteran carried that momentum throughout his glorious day.
Fred Couples started his first round off right. #themasters pic.twitter.com/0bl2M4tYV2
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 10, 2025
Did Fred Couples win a Masters?
Couples won the Masters in 1992, shooting -13 for the tournament to best Ray Floyd by two strokes. He received a lifetime exemption by winning the tournament, meaning he is automatically qualified for the Masters field each year.
Things have changed dramatically in golf since Couples won his green jacket more than 30 years ago. The prize money for the Masters winner in 1992 was $270,000. In 2025, the champion will take home $3.6 million.
Oldest players to win the Masters
While Couples had a fantastic first round, no player has won the Masters over the age of 50. Here’s a list of the top five oldest players to have won the tournament.
- Jack Nicklaus — 46 years, 2 months, 24 days (1986)
- Tiger Woods — 43 years, 3 months, 15 days (2019)
- Ben Crenshaw — 43 years, 2 months, 30 days (1995)
- Gary Player —42 years, 5 months, 9 days (1978)
- Sam Snead — 41 years, 10 months, 17 days (1954)
