Golf: Couples the straight man
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Your support makes all the difference.FRED COUPLES' greatest moment of anxiety came three years ago at the United States PGA tournament on the 18th tee when he had the chance to complete a round without a missed fairway.
Couples' drive was safe, and the occasion was a once-in-a-lifetime event. Yesterday, in the first round of the Honda Classic, Couples missed one fairway, which he said was 'shocking', and hit every green in his score of 64 to lead the field. 'It was my best ball-striking round in a long time,' Couples said. 'I drove well, hit good irons and made good putts.' Couples made eight birdies in the round, only one of which resulted from a putt longer than 10 feet.
Not everyone found Weston Hills so simple yesterday. Nick Faldo shot a three-under-par round of 69, with no bogeys, but came off the course disappointed with his scoring. 'The putting wasn't very good today,' he said.
Faldo missed five birdie putts from within 10 to 12 feet, and the three that he did sink were about eight feet in length. Faldo had similar problems last week at Doral, although he finished in sixth place, tied with Couples.
Although his score was not an accurate reflection, Sandy Lyle was even more gratified with the state of his game after a round of 71. Lyle started with a double bogey and a bogey in the first four holes. 'I just got off to a horrible start, but that puts you in fighting mode. I didn't play bad, yet I dropped three shots in the space of three holes.'
Lyle had a solid inward nine, however, with five birdies in the first eight holes. He had a bogey at the 18th after his drive trickled into the water, but almost saved par by pitching his fourth shot to four inches.
HONDA CLASSIC (Florida) Leading first-round scores (US unless stated): 64 F Couples; 65 D Jackson, P Blackmar; 66 F Zoeller, A Magee, G Sauers; 67 B Glasson, B Estes, R Dalpos, C Parry (Aus); 68 M Calcavecchia, D Mast, R Gamez, J Gallagher Jr, D Peege, D Hart, D Frost (SA); 69 N Faldo (GB), L Ten Broeck, W Levi; Selected: 71 S Lyle (GB).
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