Fred Couples
Fred Couples
Frederick Steven Couplesis an American professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. A former World No. 1, he has won 57 professional tournaments, most notably the 1992 Masters Tournament. In August 2011 he won his maiden senior major at the Senior Players Championship and followed this up in July 2012 when he won the Senior British Open Championship. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2013. Because of his long drives,...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionGolfer
Date of Birth3 October 1959
CitySeattle, WA
CountryUnited States of America
I could go away five or six weeks in a row and never touch a club. I would just look at them and say, 'I just don't want to; it's not that important.' And it wasn't that important. Golf - I don't want to answer loosely - I pay a lot of attention to it, but I don't ever really think about it.
I'm pretty much a self-taught player. My swing hasn't changed a whole lot, I don't think. But I watch a lot of people.
I expect myself to do well. I'm not, like, 'Oh, well.' I'm not in that category just yet. I don't play great golf a lot anymore. I do it every now and then. I finished third in the British Open last year, so I know I can still do it.
My goal has always been to play golf, and play it well. In the end, that's what I am, a golfer. If my back lets me, I'm going to play my favorite places. If I hurt myself, that'll probably be it for a while.
My mom was so people-friendly. She was incredible. She'd go to the mall, and she'd talk to everyone. Give people a kiss on the cheek. I think if I wasn't pushed around a lot, I'd be great with people. Maybe I still can be.
Golf is supposed to be fun, but I don't think anything is fun if you're not doing it reasonably well.
I left home at 17, traveled. I got married when I was 21. That's a young age. As it turned out, things were fine, then not so fine, and then it was a blunder. That happens all the time.
Golf is a game to me. Other players work extremely hard all year long. I work hard before Augusta. I know I get good results when I practice, but it also wears me out. It literally wore me out even when I was in my 20s.
I will say I love competing, and I was in a great era of playing with young Phil Mickelson and older Greg Norman and Nick Price. I don't know if YA Title could throw the ball these days, but you can play golf for a long, long time.
As far as swing and techniques are concerned, I don't know diddly squat. When I'm playing well, I don't even take aim.
I'm a lot older than I was when I was 30, which is kind of hard to believe.
Everybody teaches a system. I just try to shoot where I'm aiming. I play by sight and feel not by technical thoughts.
Always count your blessings. Be thankful you are able to be out on a beautiful course. Most people in the world don't have that opportunity.
There is no truth in the idea that the person who hits the most balls will become the best golfer. Golf is a bizarre sport. You can work for years on your game, without making any improvement in your score.