Why Fred Couples is using a yellow ball at the Masters

Fred Couples has played on the PGA Tour Champions since 2010, but as the 1992 Masters winner, he has a lifetime invitation to the event at Augusta National Golf Club.

The 63-year-old is off to a solid start in this year’s tournament. He shot 1-under in Thursday’s Round 1, and he’s on the right side of the projected cut line as of publication at even par overall.

If you’ve been watching Couples’ run so far, you may have noticed something that differentiates him from the rest of the field: He uses a yellow golf ball.

The reason for this is quite simple — it helps him spot the ball better. He’s not the only golfer that has opted to make the switch to easier balls to track, but that doesn’t mean it’s a popular choice with everyone on the tour.

Tiger Woods told Golf.com that other golfers — himself included — often rib couples for the choice. Woods said that he always thought yellow balls were for “hacks,” though he acknowledged that he would use one if he thought it would help his score.

“We give [Fred] grief all the time about using the yellow ball,” Woods said. “But he absolutely loves it because he can’t see anymore. You should see the front on his phone; it’s like one letter per screen.”

The yellow cover apparently provides no advantage (or disadvantage) beyond the increased visibility, but obviously, even a former Masters winner like Couples is immune from some slight mocking about it.