AUGUSTA, Georgia - Fred Couples was dealing with such intense back pain over the first two rounds of the Masters that the 1992 champion said on Friday he should have withdrawn but stuck around to help the younger golfers he was playing with.

The 64-year-old Couples, a fan favourite everywhere he goes, followed an opening eight-over-par 80 with a 76 in the second round that left him at 12 over on the week and well outside the cut line.