February 18, 2006	Saturday	Muharram 19, 1427

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PACIFIC PALISADES (California), Feb 17: Defying a pounding head and high fever, twice champion Fred Couples moved into early contention with a five-under-par 66 at the Nissan Open on Thursday.

Couples, who became sick at last week’s Johnnie Walker Classic in Australia, mixed six birdies with a bogey at the Riviera Country Club to end the first round two strokes behind co-leaders Justin Rose of Britain and American Dean Wilson.

Couples, winner at Riviera in 1990 and 1992, said he could hardly function on Wednesday when he was forced to withdraw from the pro-am tournament.

Starting on the 10th tee, the 1992 U.S. Masters champion sliced his drive right into a bunker and overshot the green with his approach. Although his chip back ended up just four feet from the pin, he missed the par putt.

A winner of 15 titles on the PGA Tour, Couples last tasted victory at the 2003 Houston Open.

First round scores:

64 - Justin Rose, Dean Wilson

66 - Fred Couples, Billy Mayfair, Jesper Parnevik

67 - Rod Pampling, Harrison Frazar, Rory Sabbatini, Chad Campbell, Tom Lehman, Corey Pavin, Trevor Immelman

68 - Charles Howell, Pat Perez, Kevin Sutherland, Olin Browne, Stuart Appleby, Adam Scott, Joey Sindelar, Kevin Na, Jeff Brehaut, David Duval, Peter Lonard, Arron Oberholser

69 - Tiger Woods, Greg Owen, Luke Donald, KJ Choi