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One by one, the final pairings left the driving range at Augusta National Golf Club.
First, Bernhard Langer and Brad Faxon. Then Nick Faldo and Corey Pavin; Mark O’Meara and Ted Shultz; Ray Floyd and Ian Baker-Finch.
Masters Tournament leader Fred Couples glanced at the deserted grass. He then peered at the once-crammed bleachers behind him.
“I’m bored,” Couples said to his coach, Paul Marchand. “Tell me something to do.”
It was April 12, 1992, and Couples was tense.
More: Fred Couples says he will play in the 2025 Masters but will it be his last trip to Augusta?
He had left the rental too early, daunted by potential slowdowns on Washington Road, and now the warm-up session had exhausted its worth.
Three Aprils earlier, Couples had given exact instructions.
“Look,” Freddie told Marchand. “I really need you at Augusta. I want you to be with me everywhere. Just don’t mess me up.”
Marchand stared at his player, who was holding a driver on the empty range, and the coach began listing shot shapes.
High draw.
Low cut.
Another draw.
Another fade.
“It’s a great drill,” Marchand said. “I recommend it to everybody. Just not Sunday afternoon when you’re leading the Masters.”
Soon, Couples stood on No. 1 tee box holding driver. His draw down the left side kept drawing, bouncing through pine straw into No. 9 fairway.
Saved par.
His drive on No. 2 found another row of pines. Second shot, punch out. Bogey.
“I’m thinking, ‘This practice session was an absolute disaster,’” Marchand said. “I had messed him up.”
This April marks the 40th Masters appearance for Fred Couples.
His 31 successful cuts ranks second to Nicklaus. His 23 consecutive cuts from 1983-2007 trails only Tiger. And in 2023 — at 63 years old — Couples became the oldest to clip the cutline.
But his career can largely be defined by one day: April 12, 1992.
After the sprayed drives on Nos. 1 and 2, Couples teed a 2-iron on the par-4 3rd.
“I fatted it,” said Couples, speaking this winter from his Newport, California, home, “That’s when Joe stepped in.”
“Get a glove and get in the ... game,” caddie Joe LaCava demanded, handing over an 8-iron.
Fred’s dart landed two feet from the pin.
Tap-in birdie.
Couples — now 65 years old — spends most days at home in Orange County.
But his mind often drifts to Georgia.
“I think about Augusta all the time,” Couples admits.
He thinks about his shot on No. 12 in 1992, landing on the bank, then slamming breaks before Rae’s Creek.
“Luckiest break of my life,” he says.
He thinks about the heartbreak of 2006, when his belly putter vanished on Sunday. A 3-putt on No. 8. Another at 11. Then the 14th, where he used three strokes from four feet to seal Phil Mickelson’s second jacket.
“I hit the ball better in 2006 than ’92,” Couples said. “Shot for shot, every hole, I was right there with Phil. Phil just didn’t 3-putt.”
He thinks about the 1993 Champions Dinner, where he served chicken cacciatore.
“Gene Sarazen’s favorite,” Freddie laughed.
As the meal concluded, the waitstaff delivered a $7,750 wine bill and told Couples it would be charged to his player account.
“I’m next to Byron Nelson and Mr. Jack Stephens at the head of the table, and I’m visibly shaken,” Couples said. “I don’t drink, but the table had been drinking wine for two hours, and now I’m handed a bill as big as my Maxfli contract.”
Raymond Floyd and Fuzzy Zoeller glanced across the rectangular table, both swallowing laughter. As Couples prepared to leave, the two bear-hugged Fred.
Welcome to the Masters Club, Freddie.
“My night was kind of ruined until those hugs,” Fred said. “Pretty good prank.”
As he talked, Couples bounced through topics, yet always returned to 1992.
He spoke on how the week began unconventionally, where instead of arriving at Augusta National, he flew to Minneapolis for the Final Four. And when Duke and Michigan reached Monday’s championship game, CBS announcer Jim Nantz petitioned his college roommate to leave.
“Jimmy,” Couples told Nantz. “It’s more fun for me to be here than to play a practice round at Augusta.”
“I bet no champion has ever arrived on Tuesday,” Couples said. “Bet Jack wasn’t at the Final Four and said, ‘I think I’ll stay for Monday’s game.’”
Seven nights after the Final Four, Jim Nantz raised a glass of champagne at Freddie’s rental home.
Nantz’s father, Jim Nantz, Jr., wore Couples’ green jacket.
“All the way from Taub Hall,” Nantz’s toast began, referencing their University of Houston dormitory.
Marchand, whose practice session fears had been allayed, recorded the final round, and the room rewatched the second nine, as Nantz took over the room, rebroadcasting for the small audience with unfiltered commentary.
As the celebration concluded, Couples and Marchand intersected in a hallway before retiring for the night.
“Fred,” Marchand said. “You’re the Masters Champion.”
Couples smiled. He said nothing.
Freddie never won another major championship.
Blame it on Sunday miscues, or maybe the back ailments that plagued him since Doral in 1994.
The answer likely lies somewhere in between.
Now, as Freddie’s Augusta National hourglass clings to grains, it’s no longer about conquering the field. It’s about winning time.
At the 2024 Masters, Couples limped to rounds of 80, 76, and left with the internal question: Would Chairman Fred Ridley wish he’d step aside?
Those fears, however, were extinguished this winter after a phone call with Steve Ethun — the Masters Chief Tournament Officer.
“I told Steve two things,” Couples said. “First, I don’t want to embarrass myself. And that I’m certainly not going to embarrass Augusta National.
“Steve goes, ‘We already know that. We want you to keep playing.’”
“I can’t tell you how much my blood pressure went down,” Couples said.
Fred was en route to the airport, and with two hours until takeoff, he began calling his inner circle to share the news.
One dial went to George Downing, who caddied for Couples at the 2024 Masters.
“George could hear it in my voice,” Couples said. “He goes, ‘Did you win the lottery?’ I said, ‘No, George. I get to keep playing the Masters.’”
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Freddie Couples embraces longevity at Masters with 40th appearance
Continue reading...
First, Bernhard Langer and Brad Faxon. Then Nick Faldo and Corey Pavin; Mark O’Meara and Ted Shultz; Ray Floyd and Ian Baker-Finch.
Masters Tournament leader Fred Couples glanced at the deserted grass. He then peered at the once-crammed bleachers behind him.
“I’m bored,” Couples said to his coach, Paul Marchand. “Tell me something to do.”
It was April 12, 1992, and Couples was tense.
More: Fred Couples says he will play in the 2025 Masters but will it be his last trip to Augusta?
He had left the rental too early, daunted by potential slowdowns on Washington Road, and now the warm-up session had exhausted its worth.
Three Aprils earlier, Couples had given exact instructions.
“Look,” Freddie told Marchand. “I really need you at Augusta. I want you to be with me everywhere. Just don’t mess me up.”
Marchand stared at his player, who was holding a driver on the empty range, and the coach began listing shot shapes.
High draw.
Low cut.
Another draw.
Another fade.
“It’s a great drill,” Marchand said. “I recommend it to everybody. Just not Sunday afternoon when you’re leading the Masters.”
Soon, Couples stood on No. 1 tee box holding driver. His draw down the left side kept drawing, bouncing through pine straw into No. 9 fairway.
Saved par.
His drive on No. 2 found another row of pines. Second shot, punch out. Bogey.
“I’m thinking, ‘This practice session was an absolute disaster,’” Marchand said. “I had messed him up.”
Fred Couples' run to 1992 Masters wasn't simple
This April marks the 40th Masters appearance for Fred Couples.
His 31 successful cuts ranks second to Nicklaus. His 23 consecutive cuts from 1983-2007 trails only Tiger. And in 2023 — at 63 years old — Couples became the oldest to clip the cutline.
But his career can largely be defined by one day: April 12, 1992.
After the sprayed drives on Nos. 1 and 2, Couples teed a 2-iron on the par-4 3rd.
“I fatted it,” said Couples, speaking this winter from his Newport, California, home, “That’s when Joe stepped in.”
You must be registered for see images
“Get a glove and get in the ... game,” caddie Joe LaCava demanded, handing over an 8-iron.
Fred’s dart landed two feet from the pin.
Tap-in birdie.
Couples — now 65 years old — spends most days at home in Orange County.
But his mind often drifts to Georgia.
“I think about Augusta all the time,” Couples admits.
He thinks about his shot on No. 12 in 1992, landing on the bank, then slamming breaks before Rae’s Creek.
You must be registered for see images attach
“Luckiest break of my life,” he says.
He thinks about the heartbreak of 2006, when his belly putter vanished on Sunday. A 3-putt on No. 8. Another at 11. Then the 14th, where he used three strokes from four feet to seal Phil Mickelson’s second jacket.
“I hit the ball better in 2006 than ’92,” Couples said. “Shot for shot, every hole, I was right there with Phil. Phil just didn’t 3-putt.”
He thinks about the 1993 Champions Dinner, where he served chicken cacciatore.
“Gene Sarazen’s favorite,” Freddie laughed.
As the meal concluded, the waitstaff delivered a $7,750 wine bill and told Couples it would be charged to his player account.
“I’m next to Byron Nelson and Mr. Jack Stephens at the head of the table, and I’m visibly shaken,” Couples said. “I don’t drink, but the table had been drinking wine for two hours, and now I’m handed a bill as big as my Maxfli contract.”
Raymond Floyd and Fuzzy Zoeller glanced across the rectangular table, both swallowing laughter. As Couples prepared to leave, the two bear-hugged Fred.
Welcome to the Masters Club, Freddie.
“My night was kind of ruined until those hugs,” Fred said. “Pretty good prank.”
You must be registered for see images attach
As he talked, Couples bounced through topics, yet always returned to 1992.
He spoke on how the week began unconventionally, where instead of arriving at Augusta National, he flew to Minneapolis for the Final Four. And when Duke and Michigan reached Monday’s championship game, CBS announcer Jim Nantz petitioned his college roommate to leave.
“Jimmy,” Couples told Nantz. “It’s more fun for me to be here than to play a practice round at Augusta.”
“I bet no champion has ever arrived on Tuesday,” Couples said. “Bet Jack wasn’t at the Final Four and said, ‘I think I’ll stay for Monday’s game.’”
'I get to keep playing the Masters'
Seven nights after the Final Four, Jim Nantz raised a glass of champagne at Freddie’s rental home.
Nantz’s father, Jim Nantz, Jr., wore Couples’ green jacket.
“All the way from Taub Hall,” Nantz’s toast began, referencing their University of Houston dormitory.
Marchand, whose practice session fears had been allayed, recorded the final round, and the room rewatched the second nine, as Nantz took over the room, rebroadcasting for the small audience with unfiltered commentary.
As the celebration concluded, Couples and Marchand intersected in a hallway before retiring for the night.
“Fred,” Marchand said. “You’re the Masters Champion.”
Couples smiled. He said nothing.
Freddie never won another major championship.
Blame it on Sunday miscues, or maybe the back ailments that plagued him since Doral in 1994.
The answer likely lies somewhere in between.
Now, as Freddie’s Augusta National hourglass clings to grains, it’s no longer about conquering the field. It’s about winning time.
At the 2024 Masters, Couples limped to rounds of 80, 76, and left with the internal question: Would Chairman Fred Ridley wish he’d step aside?
Those fears, however, were extinguished this winter after a phone call with Steve Ethun — the Masters Chief Tournament Officer.
“I told Steve two things,” Couples said. “First, I don’t want to embarrass myself. And that I’m certainly not going to embarrass Augusta National.
“Steve goes, ‘We already know that. We want you to keep playing.’”
“I can’t tell you how much my blood pressure went down,” Couples said.
Fred was en route to the airport, and with two hours until takeoff, he began calling his inner circle to share the news.
One dial went to George Downing, who caddied for Couples at the 2024 Masters.
“George could hear it in my voice,” Couples said. “He goes, ‘Did you win the lottery?’ I said, ‘No, George. I get to keep playing the Masters.’”
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Freddie Couples embraces longevity at Masters with 40th appearance
Continue reading...
