Fred Couples as reliable as the azaleas walks off the 13th tee during the second round at Augusta National Golf Club.(Photo Jack Gruber USA TODAY Sports)

AUGUSTA Ga. It happens practically every year now. Fred Couples 53 is as reliable as the azaleas at Augusta National. He comes to the Masters and moves into the lead.

Couples barely plays anymore on the PGA Tour just one event so far this year a tie for 46th at Riviera in Los Angeles. He has played in three Champions Tour events in 2013 finishing second fourth and tied for 12th.

Basically for all most of us know he plays one tournament a year the one he won in 1992 the Masters.

Twice in the previous three years since turning 50 Couples has led a round of the Masters. He did it in 2010 and 2012 and he almost did it again Friday standing atop the leaderboard for most of the day at 5 under before Jason Day moved ahead of him in the tournament's final hour.

Fred loves this place said 55 year old Bernhard Langer the two time Masters champion who showed up on the leaderboard here for awhile himself Friday finishing at 2 under. I talked to him yesterday. He's played here 28 times and he's only missed (two cuts). So this is his second home.

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I did tee off Thursday with the idea of playing well Couples said after shooting his second consecutive round under par a 68 followed by a 71. Now it's Friday afternoon late I mean I'm surprised but I'm not like you know going to freak out over it.

In 2010 Couples led after a first round 66 and ended up finishing sixth. In 2011 he never was an overnight leader after any round but he finished tied for 15th. And last year he held the lead halfway through the tournament but shot 75 72 on the weekend to drop into a tie for 12th.

It didn't happen last year Couples said. I was 4 over pretty fast on Saturday which was a real bummer. And then on Sunday you know I played well enough to finish in a good spot.

How does he keep doing this

I hit the ball a long way he said. And I don't have this kind of memory but I know last year I putted very very well. I think I was up there in putting and I drove the ball pretty well. The last two days I've driven the ball nicely and so it seems like the same old course for me. So then you get into Am I good enough to play four good rounds in a row on a course like this

That question follows him year after year. So far the answer has been no he's not. But to paraphrase the well known sports bromide there's always this year.

I would like to have another run he said. As I said last year (I) struggled right off the bat and really (was) a non factor on Saturday and that was not really much fun. Hopefully tomorrow will be a little different and I will play well and have a shot at Sunday. I mean that's my goal. But it is hard. I'm not going to kid you. I mean it's a hard course. I'm really tired.

The grind of playing on a tough day with the wind kicking up and the pin placements far more difficult than the opening round was softened by the fact that Couples feels good physically. His notoriously bad back is not giving him any trouble at all. No if it was a problem he said I wouldn't be playing like this.

For an old guy Couples is as popular as any player who comes here every year. And when he plays well there is no one who is a more jovial interview. Asked why people think he's so cool he laughed.

You know I'm cool but I can be a jerk too he said smiling. I'm a cool jerk. And I don't really get mad. I mean I've broken clubs and for 33 years maybe three times or four times so I don't get too frustrated.

Perhaps perspective makes up for advancing age especially on a course as long and taxing as this one. Langer was asked if it's possible for a man in his 50s to still win this tournament.

I think it's possible he said adding I always thought that Freddie with his length can win it because he hits it a good 30 yards by me which helps a great deal on some of these holes. For me to win everything has to go my way. I got to start making some putts most of all. So I'll be working on that.

While Langer will be focusing on his putting Couples will be hoping to stay near the lead for another round. It's just another normal Masters weekend for these two golfers combined age 108.

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