Older players still have a shot at Masters

AUGUSTA -- Could 51 be the new 46?

In 1986, Jack Nicklaus became the oldest player to win the Masters, claiming the final of his 18 major championships at the age of 46.

More than two decades later, it’s beginning to feel as if that record is destined to fall.

After the first round at Augusta National Golf Club in 2010, the name atop the leaderboard was then-50-year-old Fred Couples, who shot a 66. Tom Watson, then 60, was tied for second, one shot back.

Couples struggled to a second-round 75, shot 68-70 on the weekend and wound up finishing sixth for the tournament. Watson tied for 18th.

Nevertheless, it was clear that contention at the Masters past the age of 46 is a reality, not a curiosity.

“Vijay (Singh) is what, 49 now? 48? To think that Vijay couldn’t be in contention is silly,” Nicklaus said. “Freddie Couples is 51 and can certainly play well here any time. I would even throw out my friend, Watson. He can play pretty well, too.”

Major contention beyond the mid-40s may be a developing trend. Kenny Perry, then 48, tied for second at the Masters in 2009, losing in a playoff to Angel Cabrera. Outside of the Augusta National grounds, Watson and Greg Norman carried leads into the final round of the British Open at the ages of 59 and 53, respectively.

“You don’t think about age when you’re playing,” Nicklaus said, adding that better equipment and ball technology have extended the careers of many golfers. “I mean, why would you ever think about that? I was physically in pretty darned good shape when I was 46.”

The limits of age have been moved back before, said Gary Player, now 50 years removed from his first green jacket in 1961.

“I won The Masters at 42, and I thought, ‘Well, nobody is going to beat that.’ (Nicklaus) comes out at 46 and wins the tournament,” Player said. “I was thrilled, and it was touching, and it was encouraging for people to know that they are not getting old because they are 46.”

This story was originally published April 7, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Older players still have a shot at Masters."