Jackson Reid
Fred Couples is a professional golfer who has been active in the sport since the 1980s. Despite suffering from back injuries since 1994, Couples has continued to play golf and is still one of the best players on Tour. At the 2023 Masters, Couples became the oldest player to make the cut at a Masters Tournament at the age of 63. He has expressed his desire to continue playing golf, stating that he could play forever. Couples has also been referred to as Mr. Skins due to his dominance in the Skins Game, a title he has won five times. With his recent return to the PGA Tour Champions' Boeing Classic, Couples is still actively golfing and competing at the highest level.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current golfing activity | Couples is still active in golf, participating in tournaments such as the PGA Tour Champions' Boeing Classic in 2024 and planning to play in the Masters in 2026. |
| Performance | Couples has achieved notable successes in his career, including winning the Skins Game five times and two prestigious European Tour events back-to-back in 1995. He has made 31 cuts at the Masters, the third most of all time. |
| Health and age | Couples has experienced back injuries since 1994, which have impacted his career. In 2023, at the age of 63, he became the oldest player to make the cut at a Masters Tournament. He plans to continue playing but acknowledges the need to address his back issues. |
| Equipment and technique | Couples is known for not wearing a glove and for his extreme shoulder turn during his swing. He has shared techniques for high, soft pitch shots to avoid tricky breaks on the green. |
| Sponsorships and brand associations | Couples is a brand ambassador for Anatabloc, an anti-inflammatory supplement, and wears the brand logo on his golf shirts. |
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What You'll Learn
Fred Couples' golfing technique
Fred Couples is known for his smooth, effortless, and easy-on-the-eye swing, which has earned him a reputation as one of the greatest golfers of all time. Couples has a unique, individualistic style that sets him apart from other golfers.
Couples' signature swing is characterised by its loose, rhythmic style, which he developed as a child to keep up with older players. He is self-taught and has never taken a lesson or hired a swing coach. His swing is a mix of balance and power, and he focuses on completing a full shoulder turn at the top of his backswing. This allows him to generate effortless power as he releases the club down towards the ball.
Couples also has a unique chipping technique. Instead of a hands-ahead, downward stroke, he releases his right hand through impact, creating a mirror-image arc on the follow-through. This natural hand release squares the clubface to the target, resulting in a soft, controlled flight.
In addition to his swing and chipping techniques, Couples is known for his strategic approach to the game. He does not focus on picking a specific landing spot when chipping, which can be paralysing for some golfers. Instead, he simplifies his shot-planning process by using a lob-style chip, reducing the number of calculations needed.
Couples' golfing prowess has earned him numerous accolades, including winning the Skins Game five times and accumulating over $3.5 million in earnings. He was also the first American player to reach the number one position in the Official World Golf Rankings in 1992, spending 16 weeks at the top spot.
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Couples' golfing career success
Fred Couples is an American professional golfer who has competed on the PGA Tour and the PGA Tour Champions. Couples turned pro in 1980 and has had a highly successful career, winning 64 professional tournaments.
Couples' first PGA Tour victory came at the Kemper Open in 1983. He went on to win the prestigious Masters Tournament in 1992, and the Players Championship in 1984 and 1996. In addition to his major championship success, Couples has also excelled in many other international tournaments. He won two European Tour events in back-to-back weeks in 1995—the Dubai Desert Classic and the Johnnie Walker Classic. He also finished as a runner-up in several other European, Australasian, Japan Golf, and Asian Tour events.
Couples has been nicknamed "Boom Boom" for his long and accurate driving ability off the tee. He is also sometimes called "Mr. Skins" due to his dominance in the Skins Game, which he has won five times, accumulating over $3.5 million in prize money. At the 2023 Masters Tournament, Couples became the oldest player to make the cut at 63 years, six months, and five days, showcasing his longevity in the sport.
In addition to his playing career, Couples has co-designed golf courses with his partner Gene D. Bates since 1992. Their venture has resulted in over 20 award-winning championship golf courses worldwide. Couples has also lent his name to two golf video games published by Sega in 1994.
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Couples' plans to continue golfing
Fred Couples is a professional golfer who has been playing golf for several decades. Despite his age, Couples continues to play golf and compete in tournaments.
In 2023, at the age of 63, Couples became the oldest player to make the cut at a Masters Tournament. He has made 31 cuts at the Masters, the third-most of all time. Couples has also won the Skins Game five times and accumulated over $3.5 million in prize money.
Despite his success, Couples has been plagued by back injuries since 1994, which have affected his career. His swing technique, which involves an extreme shoulder turn and keeping his left foot flat on the ground, puts a lot of pressure on his lower back. However, Couples remains one of the best players on Tour, even with an abbreviated schedule.
In recent years, Couples has hinted at retirement, expressing his fear of injury and the physical toll that playing golf takes on his body. However, he continues to compete in select tournaments and has expressed his desire to keep playing for a "couple more years." Couples also stated that he needs to get his "back fixed" in order to continue playing, indicating that he plans to continue golfing as long as his health permits.
Couples' love for the game is evident, and he continues to pursue it despite the challenges. He is a testament to the enduring passion and dedication that golfers can have for their sport, even into their later years.
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Couples' golfing equipment
Fred Couples is still an active golfer, having competed in the 2023 Masters at the age of 63. He is known for his powerful swing and long drives, earning him the nickname "Boom Boom". Couples is selective about his equipment, only playing with gear he truly enjoys.
Golf Clubs
Couples uses a variety of golf clubs from different manufacturers. He has been seen with a Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond Driver, a Callaway FTI Squareway fairway wood, and a Ping G425 Max Fairway Wood. He has also used a TaylorMade M3 440 9-degree driver with a Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue 75 X shaft and a TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver.
Golf Balls
Couples uses yellow matte Bridgestone Tour B RXS golf balls. The yellow colour helps him to see the ball better. He is also known to use the Bridgestone TOUR B RX ball.
Golf Shoes
Couples wears Asics golf shoes, which are known for their comfort and water resistance.
Golf Gloves
Notably, Couples is one of the few professional golfers who never wears a golf glove.
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Couples' golfing reputation
Fred Couples is a well-known golfer with an impressive golfing legacy. He is often regarded as a world-class golfer due to his ability to compete at the highest level globally. Couples' golfing journey began in Seattle, where he developed his signature loose and rhythmic swing style to keep up with older children at the local golf course. Despite being self-taught and facing challenges with back injuries, Couples rose to the top of the sport.
In 1992, Couples became the first American player to reach the number one position in the Official World Golf Rankings. He spent 16 weeks at the top, winning two tournaments and finishing second in two others during this remarkable stretch. Couples' dominance extended to the Skins Game, where he earned the nickname "Mr. Skins" after winning the event five times and accumulating over $3.5 million in prize money. His success in off-season events also led to the playful title of ""King of the Silly Season".
Couples has nine top-10 finishes at The Open Championship, including two third-place ties in 1991 and 2005. His talents were not limited to American soil, as he achieved international acclaim with victories in prestigious European Tour events. Couples' unique swing path, created by his open stance, sets him apart from most golfers. He is a southpaw who uses a distinct swing despite being right-handed.
Beyond his playing career, Couples has successfully leveraged his golfing image for brand endorsements and video game collaborations. He has also co-designed over 20 award-winning golf courses worldwide through his firm, Couples Bates Golf Design. Despite his success and reputation in the golfing world, Couples is known to shun attention and prefers to be a listener and observer rather than being in the spotlight.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Fred Couples is still an active golfer.
Fred Couples is 64 years old as of August 2024.
Couples is known for his extreme shoulder turn and keeping his left foot flat during his backswing, which puts a lot of pressure on his lower back.
Fred Couples became the oldest player to make the cut at the Masters in 2023 at 63 years old. He has also won the Skins Game five times and is known as the "King of the Silly Season" for his success in off-season, made-for-TV events.
Fred Couples has expressed his desire to continue playing golf as long as he can remain healthy, specifically mentioning the need to address his back issues. He has stated that he plans on making the cut at the Masters in the upcoming years.
