Augusta National gives. And it takes away.

In 1992, it gave Fred Couples one of the biggest breaks any Masters competitor has ever received. In 1998, it pounced on Couples' mistake and made him pay the price of a blown Masters.

Couples thought he was going to be the winner last year after leading for 66 holes.

"What happened has only irritated me for a year and it's still climbing," Couples said. "But there's nothing I've ever done that I can't get over."

Couples hooked a drive into the pine trees to the left of Rae's Creek on the par-5, No. 13, a tempting 485-yard dogleg.

Couples found disaster after he chipped a wedge back to the fairway. Pulling out a 6-iron, he pushed his third shot and it found Rae's Creek in front of the green. He stared at the disappearing ball in disbelief.

The flustered Couples finished with a double-bogey 7 on what's considered the easiest hole of the three-hole Amen Corner swing. He still makes no excuses for what happened.

"I felt the pressure," he said. ``I didn't make a good enough swing and it cost me the tournament. Maybe I should have taken more time. I felt a little rushed. It's bothered me awhile. I just hope I get another shot at it."

The collapse gave Mark O'Meara just enough room to win the tournament with birdies on the last two holes.

Couples was under par in every round (69-70-71-70), but finished tied for second.

"I feel like I should have won," Couples said. ``Sometimes fate intervenes at Augusta."

Like that Sunday in 1992.

Couples' tee shot hit into the slope on the treacherous 155-yard No. 12. Somehow the ball defied gravity and clung to a blade of grass short of the water. Couples got it up-and-down for par and cruised to his first and only major championship.

A half-dozen other balls trickled into the water that day in the general area where Couples hit his ball.

"Normally you forget the good breaks you get and remember the bad one like I got last year," Couples said. "But I'll never forget the break I got in 1992."

Couples, who has been in the top 10 six times at Augusta National, has a perfect game for the course. He's a long driver, hits good irons and can putt fast greens.

"I feel like I can win," said Couples, who was fourth in The Players Championship two weeks ago. "Length is a huge deal here and this is my favorite course."

He hopes he comes to his 67th hole on Sunday in front and with a chance to tame the testy 13th.