Riviera expert Couples defies back pain to take control

19 Feb 2011, 9:53 am   -   Source: Reuters
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PACIFIC PALISADES, California (Reuters) - Veteran Fred Couples loved playing at Riviera Country Club the first time he saw the course and for the umpteenth time in recent years he defied back pain to soar to the top of a leaderboard.

PACIFIC PALISADES, California (Reuters) - Veteran Fred Couples loved playing at Riviera Country Club the first time he saw the course and for the umpteenth time in recent years he defied back pain to soar to the top of a leaderboard.

The 51-year-old coolly sank a 100-foot eagle putt at the par-five first on the way to a flawless five-under-par 66 in the second round of the Northern Trust Open on Friday.

Couples also sank two 30-footers for birdie on the classic Riviera layout to take an early two-shot lead at eight-under 134 as the late starters teed off with the prospect of a thunderstorm in the afternoon.

Big-hitting American J.B. Holmes briefly joined Couples at the top before double-bogeying the par-four 18th for a 69 to lie alone in second.

Two more Americans, Ryan Moore (68) and Kevin Na (66), were a further stroke back at five under.

Couples, champion here in 1990 and 1992, began the day a stroke off the pace but immediately took charge with his unexpected eagle start.

He rolled in a 30-footer to birdie the ninth and reach the turn in three-under 32 before picking up further shots at the 12th and 15th to tighten his grip on the PGA Tour event.

"You always want to play well, but I do love the course," Couples told reporters. "And today I opened up with that 100-foot eagle putt ... and then it just kept going.

"Riviera is a special spot for me. I have won twice but I've had a lot of other great finishes and fun rounds, and today was one of them."

The former Masters champion and world number one enjoys Riviera so much that he is playing here this week instead of defending his title in Florida on the over-50s Champions Tour.

RIVIERA ADVANTAGE

"I've played 150 rounds on this course probably," he said. "I don't think anyone in this field has played as many rounds as I have, so that's an advantage for me."

As for his back problems of the last 20 years, Couples said he has become an expert at coping with them while limiting his warm-up time and he intended to have an MRI on Monday.

"I am tired, 51 years old, and it's kind of getting to a point where I feel like I'll play until I physically just can't do it," he added.

"When it does hinder me a little bit, I know how to get it around and when to not try and hit a shot that I may think I could when I'm healthy. I don't practice."

Holmes, lifted by four birdies on the back nine, joined Couples at the top before stumbling at the last where he overshot the green with his approach and took four more shots.

"I'm playing pretty good," Holmes said. "I'm definitely not disappointed with it (my game). I'm not getting everything out of it I think I can ... but I'm just playing solid."

American world number four Phil Mickelson, a Riviera fan favourite and winner here in 2008 and 2009, limped to a 70 that included five birdies and four bogeys.

"Today I played absolutely terrible," the left-hander said after finishing the round a distant seven strokes behind the pacesetting Couples. "I didn't know where it was going.

"I could have missed it way left, way right," Mickelson added after reaching only six of 18 greens in regulation.

"I'm not pleased being in the position where I'm at, but it could be a lot worse. I should be within striking distance if I can go out and shoot some hot round tomorrow."

(Editing by Frank Pingue)

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