Fred Couples shot a 1-under 71 in the opening round of the Masters on Thursday, the 65-year-old former champion proving to himself as much as anyone else that he still belongs.

Fred Couples started feeling old more than 20 years ago. He had a hard time with it. By 2002, the 14-time winner on the PGA Tour had gone four years without a victory and was rarely in contention anymore.

Tiger Woods told Golf.com back in 2022 that other golfers — himself included — often rib Couples for the choice. Woods said that he always thought yellow balls were for "hacks," though he acknowledged that he would use one if he thought it would help his score.