Q & A With Fred Couples
Fred Couples has long been one of golf's most popular players. The 49-year-old has more than 40 victories worldwide, including the 1992 Masters and 1996 Players Championship. He will captain the U.S. team in the 2009 Presidents Cup to be played at San Francisco's Harding Park.
Couples, who is competing in Tiger Woods' upcoming Chevron World Challenge, recently sat down with Golf Digest Contributing Editor Mark Soltau.
Golf Digest: You won a million dollars this year and cracked the Top 125 on the money list, all before your recent 49th birthday. You have to feel pretty good about that?
Couples: I do. I have one goal for next year -- I've got to get into the Top 50 in the world rankings. That's the only way I can get into the Chevron World Challenge. It would take an unbelievable year.
Next year will be my 29th year (on the PGA Tour). As I get older, I look at things a little differently. One of things that I've always done -- I love to watch the other players.
We can sit here and talk about him (Tiger). I don't gush over him, but I just think that he's such an amazing guy. Maybe when he was younger, he liked the way I played. We played a lot of practice rounds. It's very tough what he does. A lot of people come up and say 'he turned me off.' For every one that gets bummed out, there are 500 that enjoy him.
I just don't know anyone like him. Jack Nicklaus is phenomenal; Arnold Palmer is my all-time favorite player by far. But Tiger Woods -- there's just something about the whole deal. I think it's just how he dominates.
Last year, I bet him (at the Target World Challenge). I took two shots from him the first day and said, 'I'll play you for $200.' I think he shot 67 and I probably shot 74. So he said, 'Just keep it. What do you want tomorrow?' I said, 'Two shots.' He beat me again. The third day, he beat me again. The last day, he gave me four shots and said I'll give you a break-even bet. I was so nervous. He beat me; I gave his wife $800; he snatched it out of her hands so quickly -- "That's my money."
GD: Can you talk about the upcoming Chevron World Challenge, where you will be competing for the eighth time.
Couples: The first few times, I've got in the event (qualified). The last too many times, I've been a sponsor's pick. It's still all fun and it's all great.
Tiger is unique. I don't know how many people have ever seen him hit a ball, but as a player, it's very mesmerizing for me to watch him. He's so good and does things that very few people can do. What Tiger does for golf is truly magnificent. Tiger knows how to take care of players. I'm at age (49) where Anthony Kim couldn't even be my son, he's so young.
I enjoy picking on Tiger a lot. It's very easy for me to do, because he's got nothing to worry about. If it was Phil Mickleson or Vijay (Singh) picking on him, then it becomes a little more dicey. But I can't beat the guy. The only thing I can do is out-text him.
GD: Even with a touchy back, you averaged nearly 290 yards in driving distance in 2008.
Couples:: I've always hit the ball a long ways and that's been a strength. I think I'm actually a better driver today -- that's basically just because of the equipment. In 1982-83-84, I hit the ball a long way. Back in the late '70s and early '80s, the freaks were the guys who hit a long way, besides a Jack Nicklaus. The better players were not driving it further than most people.
Now, the best players are the ones who hit it the furthest. It's strength. Some guys are actually shocked that I can still out-drive them. It's kind of a good feeling. But the problem is when I sign our card, I've got 72 and they've got 69.
GD: Your thoughts on Boo Weekley?
Couples: I have yet to be paired with him. I watch on the range a little bit -- it's a little impressive. He hits the ball a long way, but nothing out of the ordinary. But on the course, he's truly a shotmaker, which means he draws the ball, fades the ball. He has all the shots.
