Few people — if any — love the Masters more than Fred Couples. And few players — if any — are more beloved by the patrons.

Couples gave those around the first green plenty to cheer about Thursday at Augusta National when he holed a birdie putt from off the green at No. 1, and embraced the celebration.

Couples, the 1992 Masters champion, is making his 40th start in the season’s first major.