Fred Couples shares Rory McIlroy prediction he made to his caddie midway through day one at Augusta

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Fred Couples had it going on during the first 14 holes of his opening round at The Masters on Thursday.

However, Augusta National bit back, as it always seems to do, and Couples ended up signing for a score of six-over-par 78.

Couples was two-under-par before disaster struck on the 15th at Augusta National on Thursday.

The 66-year-old American made a quadruple bogey nine before making double bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes.

That all added up to a round of 78, and Couples is currently sitting 11 shots adrift of Rory McIlroy, who is tied for the lead after day one of The Masters.

McIlroy’s opening round 67 at The Masters was a grind at times, but his class showed through in the end.

The Northern Irishman’s game is the absolute perfect fit for Augusta National. It really is incredible that it took him so long to win a green jacket!

Fred Couples shares Rory McIlroy prediction he made on day one at Augusta

Couples was asked how challenging he found Augusta National on day one of The Masters.

“Well, it’s fun. It’s very fun. It’s fun at all times. It’s challenging at all times,“ the 66-year-old said.

*“*But it’s getting really, really firm. I don’t know what they’ll do tonight. I know I have an early morning tee time tomorrow so that might help me stop a ball on the green. I still have to hit it, like I did the first 13 or 14 holes. It’s really rock hard.

*“*Again, it’s Augusta National. It’s supposed to be like that. The wind makes it challenging because you can’t really realize how far you’re going to hit it. For me. They’re hitting 9-irons and wedges so it’s not as hard.

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*“*You fly it a little far, goes over the green. Fly it a little short, you come up short and the chipping is hard. For the really good players I think they want it like this. I know the Jon Rahms and Schefflers and Spieths and Rorys want it like this. And by the way, Rory may never lose this thing again after last year. I said that on about the 12th hole to my caddie.

*“*Then he birdied I think a couple coming in. You know, he’s really good. He hits it so solid. Scheffler. But I enjoyed it. It stinks to finish that way. I can’t explain it. I’m a little numb because I was cruising along.

“And I can get it up and down. I’m not the greatest chipper but around here I know what I’m doing. Wow, a nine. That’s not real fun.“

How Fred Couples explains what led to quadruple bogey on the 15th at Augusta

Couples was asked by reporters what happened to cause his problems on the 15th hole on Thursday, where he ended up making a nine.

“Well, I birdied two. I’m going to lay up on every par-5. I can’t reach any of them,“ Couples said.

*“*I laid up perfect. I had 90 yards so I had to carry it 85 and 5. Sometimes when you don’t try and hit a good shot you forget what the hell you’re doing. I have no excuse. I just didn’t hit them far enough.

*“*I’ve played I don’t know how many rounds, I’ve never done that, hit it in the water going for the green. Never hit a 90-yard shot in the water and then followed up with another one. I’ve played 41 years here. I’ve never done that.

*“*It was kind of like a shot I can handle, but I wasn’t even trying to handle it. I was just trying to hit it 30 feet right. No one is going to hit it in there five feet I don’t think. The greens are like concrete. The course was really, really good.

“The winds died so I would imagine some of the guys with a few holes to go might make another birdie or two. It was challenging with the wind blowing, I’ll say that.“