Quadruple bogey concludes Fred Couples’ time near the top of the Masters leaderboard.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Fred Couples is participating in the Masters for the 41st time, and he cannot recall ever hitting into the water on the par-5 15th with a wedge in hand — twice consecutively.

This misstep marred an unexpectedly strong round for the 1992 Masters champion, resulting in a quadruple-bogey 9 on what is typically the third-easiest hole at Augusta National.

“I laid up perfectly. I had 90 yards, so I needed to carry it 85 and 5,” the 66-year-old Couples remarked. “Sometimes when you don’t aim to hit a good shot, you forget what you’re doing. I have no excuse. I simply didn’t hit them far enough.”

Couples was on the leaderboard at 2-under par, competing alongside younger stars, when his round took a downturn.

Following his 9 on the 15th, Couples’ tee shot on No. 16 also found the water, leading to double bogeys on that hole and the 17th, culminating in a score of 78.

“At any age, you still want to execute shots,” Couples stated. “It occurs. I’m not going to run away. If I were 35 and did that, I would be furious with everyone. You, you, you. And I would have rushed past and told you to leave me alone.”

So what is his mindset as he approaches Friday’s second round?

“Just have to replicate the same approach, but perhaps avoid finishing 10 over par on two holes or whatever I did,” Couples noted.

He was not the only player in the field to record a high score on No. 15. Robert MacIntyre also hit two into the water and made a 9. Another former Masters champion, Danny Willett, did the same.

This marked the first instance of at least three scores of 9 being recorded on a single hole at the Masters since the second round in 1998 — also on No. 15.

Additionally, there were four double bogeys on the hole Thursday. This contributed to a scoring average exceeding 5.121 for the day, making it the only par 5 to play over par.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.