Despite struggles, Couples a fan favorite at Masters

Everyone loves Freddie Couples.

The 52-year-old Couples teed off Saturday at the 76th Masters Tournament owning a share of the lead, an obvious delight to the large throng of patrons following him around Augusta National Golf Club.

From the time the 1992 Masters Tournament champion stepped on the first tee, to his back-to-back birdies at Nos. 11 and 12, to the final putt at No. 18 for 3-over 75, a Couples lovefest was held.

How else can one explain Couples’ hitting his second shot in the bunker at No. 1 and one of his fans near the green quickly saying, “That’s OK. He’ll chip in.”

The yells of “Boom! Boom!” and “Freddie!” arrived from all over.

Even after opening the third round with two bogeys and a double bogey in his first five holes, the encouragement flowed like one of his smooth swings.

“Man, that’s cool seeing Freddie,” a patron said to his group as Couples departed the ninth tee.

This encouragement did not surprise Evelyn Lee, 93, who stood with her daughter, 68-year-old Bobbie Borowski, on No. 6 waiting for Couples to play the hole.

“I’m from Seattle,” said Lee, who has been attending the Masters since 1958. “He started out playing at Jefferson Park on a public course and played good golf. I love his swing. It’s not one of those mechanical swings. He’s doing a great job.”

Borowski, of Colorado Springs, Colo., added: “He has a sweet and easy swing. We saw him on the driving range and he was smiling, he was happy and he was enjoying the game. You can’t sum it up any better than that. And, he’s good looking, too.”

The LaFontaine trio of Ann Arbor, Mich. – Cameron, 16, Matt, 43, and Cameron’s granddad Gordie – were at their first Masters on Saturday. They walked several holes following Couples and commenting back and forth on his play.

“He’s Freddie Boom! Boom!” Matt LaFontaine said. “He has the best attitude. I grew up with him. It’s his style, his laid-back style. That what’s people like.”

“It’s his personality,” Gordie said. “He’s a people person. People love that perfect swing. Everybody wishes they had a lazy swing like that.”

Couples said he liked the way he hit the ball, but anytime there are three sixes on a scorecard, it wasn’t his day.

“I was cutting every shot the first few holes and ended up making up a comedy of errors,” Couples said. “I really hit the ball pretty well. I didn’t make a putt which is the case for the last month or so. I’m not overly disappointed, but I am disappointed.”

Couples is playing in his 28th Masters and said he enjoys the support outside the ropes he gets here. He only wishes they could have helped a little more Saturday.

“They yell for everybody,” Couples said. “I’ve been here 30 years, or 29 years, and I’m in the last group so hopefully they are yelling for all of us. I’ve done well here a long time. I just wish a couple of them could have come out and played a few shots for me today.”

Despite the 75, Couples has at least one fan in Borowski who has her own theory on what will happen Sunday.

“I think everybody is wanting Freddie to win,” Borowski said. “Don’t you?”