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Fred {Couples} final week on the Boeing Traditional.
Getty Photos
Fred {Couples} and Ed Evans, after a pleasantry alternate, go to work. Evans, the Client Mobile CEO, is taking part in the Boeing Traditional pro-am, {Couples} is likely one of the most sought-after professionals, they usually’re on the vary at The Membership at Snoqualmie Ridge, a couple of half-hour east of Seattle, {Couples}’ hometown.
Evans hits.
“Candy,” Couples says.
Evans hits once more.
“Lovely,” {Couples} says.
Evans hits once more.
“Geez, what’s your handicap,” {Couples} asks.
“Principally my swing,” Evans cracks.
A tried-and-true golf line, if ever there have been one. However {Couples} asks once more, and Evans says it’s a 12 — and on the subsequent swing, some proof comes out. Evans is fortunate, although. Proven on a video not too long ago shared by the PGA Tour Champions social media team, he was “somewhat fast” on his swing, and {Couples}, a tempo grasp, had a thought.
It featured “dancing.”
On the video, the alternate went this fashion:
“So, somewhat fast,” {Couples} mentioned. “I say this so much on this. In the event you can — are you able to rely when you’re hitting?”
Evans mentioned he may.
“Are you able to go, one, two, and make contact at three?” {Couples} requested.
Evans mentioned he had thought he may. He hit.
“One, two. Good,” {Couples} mentioned. “Now, you hit all of them like that, besides the one you thinned. However while you get somewhat — no, solely while you get somewhat fast and all that’s …”
“Simply obtained to rely,” Evans mentioned.
“It’s the primary foot and a half away from the ball,” {Couples} mentioned, “and I do it, too, and I try to go as gradual as I can after which rip it after I follow. However for you, in the event you simply give it somewhat such as you’re dancing. Little one, two, three.”
Evans hit once more.
“That’s good,” {Couples} mentioned. “It’s going to go two or three yards additional too.”
Editor’s word: Additionally on the Boeing event, {Couples} dished on his gear setup to the Champions’ social media crew, and that story may be learn by clicking here, or scrolling beneath. Its headline is: “Why Fred {Couples} is ‘loving life’ — with ‘an outdated man’s bag’”
***
Fred {Couples}, the final time we noticed him, was wounded. In April, on the Masters, longtime again points nagged, and it had delivered a nuisance.
He couldn’t hit an iron, a staggering thought for considered one of golf’s all-time candy swingers.
“I went round, each wooden I hit was actually, actually strong, however it’s howling,” he mentioned. “However an iron, as quickly as I hit, I — on 7 I hit a 6-iron as a result of I didn’t know what else to hit, and I carried it about 100 yards. No. 9, I hit a fantastic drive after which had 125, and I had 50 yards left for my third. I can’t hit an iron. My physique gained’t let me do it.
“It was actually, I don’t wish to say no enjoyable as a result of it’s Augusta, however swinging was a chore.”
After capturing rounds of 80 and 76 to overlook the lower at Augusta Nationwide, he lamented extra in his session with reporters.
“My again is shot,” the 1992 Masters winner mentioned. “I’ve extra stuff on simply to play. The longer the membership, I’m OK. I didn’t have any pace. I used to be driving it 260. However most of them have been going straight. It was enjoyable. It was actually tough.
“If I’d have had extra woods, actually, yesterday, I in all probability may have shot 75, however I didn’t know — I type of downplayed how unhealthy I felt. I ought to have had 11-wood to hit 140 yards. I couldn’t even hit an 8-iron. I couldn’t swing.”
With that, we go to this week and The Membership at Snoqualmie Ridge, the place {Couples} has returned. The course, a couple of half-hour east of his hometown of Seattle, is internet hosting the PGA Tour Champions’ Boeing Traditional, and {Couples} was smiling.
In his bag earlier within the week have been all types of head covers. He had a driver. And a 3-wood. And a 5-wood.
And a 4-rescue. And a 5-rescue. And a 6-rescue. These had seemingly changed the pesky irons.
A PGA Tour Champions social-media employee had noticed the setup, and he began this alternate with {Couples}:
“You may have an outdated man’s bag.”
“I’ve six woods,” {Couples} mentioned. “Driver, 3-wood, 5-wood, 4-rescue, 5-rescue, 6-rescue.
“And I’m loving life. It’s going to get me via these three days.”
The decision via two rounds? A two-under 70 on day one. A 71 on day two. He was contending.
It additionally supported a pledge he made again in April at Augusta.
The 64-year-old can be again on the Masters in 2025. And 2026.
“I’m planning on being wholesome and making the lower and telling Fred [ANGC chairman Fred Ridley] I’m coming again the subsequent yr, too,” {Couples} mentioned. “This was actually ugly. Yesterday there have been a number of instances I ought to haven’t performed, however I believed I may assist these guys that I used to be taking part in with somewhat bit although they’re out-driving me by 50 yards with the wind, so I didn’t wish to give up.”
Did he have an thought how for much longer he would proceed to play?
“Nicely, I’ve obtained to get my again fastened,” {Couples} mentioned. “I may play endlessly, however I can’t play like this. I withdrew at Newport [the Champions’ Hoag Classic], I withdrew at Palm Springs [the Champions’ Galleri Classic], and I’m not withdrawing right here, and I felt higher at these locations making an attempt to ensure that I may come right here. I performed 9 holes in a follow spherical and performed round it, by no means actually hit an iron. Then I got here out right here and also you’re in competitors, and also you hit a great drive somewhat farther and now you’ve obtained 160 yards. I can’t hit a wooden, so I hit an iron.
“Yesterday on the seventeenth gap, I believed I used to be going to not have the ability to stroll, and I simply took my time and bogeyed 16, 17 and 18 simply to complete. Nevertheless it’s all all proper.”
