Fred Couples showed a glimpse of his past on Thursday, firing a seven-under-par 65 to take a one-shot lead during the weather-disrupted first round of the Houston Open. Play was delayed for two hours in the morning due to rain and 72 golfers were on the course when it was halted due to darkness. Stuart Appleby of Australia shot a 66 to lie one stroke off the pace. At six-under through 16 holes, Carl Paulson was tied on the course with Tom Pernice, who had completed 15 holes.
43-year-old Couples has 14 titles on the PGA Tour but is winless since capturing the Bob Hope Classic and The Memorial in 1998. "I haven't been in any kind of contention for three or four years," Couples admitted. "So for anyone telling you it's like riding a bike, it's not like riding a bike."
Starting on the back nine, Couples put the pedal to the metal with eight birdies. He had three before making the turn around a bogey at the par-four 16th hole, where he hit a five-iron into the bunker. Couples started a run of three birdies at the second hole, then rolled in a 30-foot putt at the par-three third. "I haven't been putting well, which is something you have to do," said Couples, who tied for 28th earlier this month at The Masters, a tournament he won in 1992. In addition to the 30-footer, Couples had four putts from 15 feet. "I had eight birdies - they are kind of hard to scatter around," he said. "But I hit some real aggressive shots in there, and some of the holes I really didn't play away from the pins."
Despite the disappointing effort at Augusta National, Couples has been playing well this season. He has finished 13th or better in four of his last five starts, including seventh-place showing in Los Angeles in February.
Defending champion Vijay Singh of Fiji was one of four golfers to shoot opening-round 67s. He was joined by Argentina's Jose Coceres, Peter Jacobsen and David Berganio. South Africa's Ernie Els, looking to rebound from a disastrous finish at The Heritage last week, opened with a 69. Els built a two-stroke lead Sunday, but his double-bogey, bogey, bogey finish left him tied for 10th at Harbour Town Golf Links. Phil Mickelson, who skipped last week's event after finishing third at The Masters, shot a 70.
Filed by James Boylan.
