Northern Trust Open: Couples birdies first hole

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Second-round leader Fred Couples birdied the par-five first hole and so did the other two men in his group, J.B. Holmes and John Senden. Couples is at nine-under for the tournament and besides Holmes and Senden there are three others -- Kevin Na, Spencer Levin and Aaron Baddeley -- who are tied for second at seven-under.

Bill Haas had been working on a round of five-under until he double bogeyed the eighth hole. Haas seemed unfazed by that glitch, though. He birdied the par-four ninth hole to record a front nine 32 and get to four-under for the tournament.

Anthony Kim, who had played with Couples on Thursday and Friday, withdrew Saturday morning, citing illness.

-- Diane Pucin