Fred Couples opened the 2021 CHUBB Classic with a 9-under 63 and will take a two-shot lead into the weekend in Naples, Florida.

Playing the Tiburon Club’s Black Course, Couples hit all 14 fairways en route to a bogey-free 63, which included nine birdies, highlighted by five straight on Nos. 5-9.

“Well, I think anytime I putt well and feel like I’m seeing the putts, I’m going to make a few,” said Couples. “A lot of wedges, but I hit a lot of fairways.

“I don’t know if I hit every fairway, but I kept the ball in play, kept it below the hole, and like I say, the hole got big there for about a five-hole stretch, and I hit the ball solid all day. But hitting the fairways was huge.”

Two off the pace was Bernhard Langer, who offset one bogey with eight birdies, including four straight before the turn, to post 65.

“Yeah, actually played quite nicely. Probably hit one loose shot and got a bogey right away, the third hole or whatever, third or fourth hole” said Langer, who is a three-time winner of the CHUBB.

“But otherwise I played very solid. Very happy with the score in general.

“Course was fantastic. The weather was beautiful. I was in good company with Kevin [Sutherland] and Scott [Parel], so had a great day.”

Gene Sauers, Steve Stricker, and Robert Karlsson were T3 on 6 under.

2021 CHUBB Classic

Top-5 Leaders: Round One
Pos-Player-To Par-(Score)
1. Fred Couples -9 (63)
2. Bernhard Langer -7 (65)
3. Gene Sauers -6 (66)
3. Steve Stricker -6 (66)
3. Robert Karlsson -6 (66)

Material from PGA Tour Media & Communications was used to compile report.