Fred Couples felt well enough to play Hoylake today — two days after telling close friend Davis Love he feared he might have to fly back to America.

Couples injured his back on the eve of the Scottish Open last Wednesday, pulled out of the tournament and spent the rest of the week taking things easy at Loch Lomond.

He then pulled out of a planned practice round with Love and their fellow American Lucas Glover yesterday — and although he was missing again this morning when they teed off with David Duval, Love said: "Freddie's already out there — playing with Phil Mickelson.

"He still wasn't very good a couple of days ago and thought he might go home. But then he tried hitting some balls, and it seems he's improved."

Following the withdrawals of Greg Norman, David Toms and Justin Leonard, Australian Andrew Buckle has become first reserve by virtue of being the next-highest player on the world rankings not in the field.