Freddie still a fan fave

Fred Couples, who a two-time winner here in the early 1990s, regained some of that old magic in Thursday's opening round, shooting a 4-under 67 to the delight of the gallery.
"I hit the ball solid. I'll take 4 under any day," he said. "I've always played well here, whether it was an eighth-place finish or a 20th-place finish and I've won a couple times (1990 and 1992).
"I just think I feel good on the course, even though I'm 49 years old. I feel like I can go out and play (Riviera) well every single time. It doesn't mean I'm going to shoot 67."
When Couples was reminded that 49 isn't that old, he scoffed.
"It's old for this place," he said. "Everywhere I look, there are (young) people. I just played with Nick Watney and he won (at the Buick Invitational). I just played with Dustin Johnson and he goes and wins (at the AT&T National Pro-Am). These guys are great, great players and young and fun to be around. I've got six more months left of this (before being eligible for the Champions Tour), so I'd better enjoy it."