He will always be one of the quiet, well-liked and respected good guys in golf.
Last week in Naples, Fred Couples reminded everyone that he still has game, even at age 57, even though he still has that bad back that has been around so long you figure he was born with it.
Freddie won the Chubb Classic, he ran down and passed “The Mechanic” and that would be the flashy, cigar-smoking, Ferrari-driving Miguel Angel Jimenez. Freddie is more of a classic muscle-car guy, he’s owned his share.
It was the 12th time he’s won on the Old Guy circuit where he’s been camped out for a long time now. His swing still looks effortless, smooth, it goes up like a slow summer breeze then drops to the inside and flows through the ball like a waterfall. It’s always looked the same, easy, like Freddie.
He’s one of the tour’s most popular players — ever. Nobody doesn’t like Sara Lee and same goes for Freddie. Who doesn’t like Freddie?? Raise your hand.
Thought so. Freddie’s been a favorite forever, still looks young despite the gray hair, there’s a little less than there used to be but maybe that’s because things in his personal life have never been as smooth as his golf swing.
First wife Deborah Couples fell to her death back in 2001. It was ruled a suicide. Fred and Deborah divorced in 1993.
Second wife Thais Baker died of breast and ovarian cancer in 2009. Although they were never divorced, they lived apart for years.
Freddie has said he’ll probably never marry again. At age 57, he’s been through enough to last a lifetime.
But he’s still got game.
He’s been our President’s Cup captain, and a good one. But when it came time for Ryder Cup captaincy, well, it looks like the window has closed on Freddie. It’s Jim Furyk’s turn and by 2020, they’ll probably be staring at Phil Mickelson. It’s a shame, Freddie would have been a good one, despite the fact that too many think he’s too easy-going.
Yeah, that win Sunday came in handy. Served as a reminder that Freddie was always fun to watch. It was his first win out there since 2014, you know he wanted it. “Like, for anyone, it feels great,” Couples reminded us after the victory. “It was a tough day, but it feels really good to play well. It’s never easy to win a golf tournament. You have to hit a lot of good shots and I think I hit quite a few. Out here, you’re trying to birdie as many holes as you can.”
That’s the name of the game on that circuit. They set it up for birdies. Freddie had to go 16-under to send The Mechanic packing down to second place and that’s not easy. The Mechanic has loads of game.
Yeah, nice to see Freddie win. Reminds us that he won 15 times on the regular tour and no one will forget the 1992 Masters when the uncut grass in front of the dream-killing 12th hole saved him, saved the Green Jacket, gave him the one major on his resume.
Last Sunday’s win reminded us that Freddie is, above everything else, a Hall Of Famer, he got the call back in 2013.
And off the course, Freddie is still Freddie, still the guy you’d like to hang out with, he’s still the ultimate sports junkie.
If there’s a game on, Freddie’s watching.
And don’t call him, there might be a game on.
After all, this is the guy who once said:
“I don’t answer the phone, I get the feeling whenever I do, that there will be someone on the other end.”
