Fred Couples has been given the green light.
After limping to rounds of 80-76 at the 2024 Masters, the 1992 champion questioned internally if Augusta National’s Competition Committee wished he’d step aside.
Those fears, however, were extinguished after a phone call with Steve Ethun, the Masters Chief Tournament Officer.
“I told Steve two things,” Couples said. “First, that 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 in a phone interview.
Couples was en route to the airport, and with two hours until takeoff, he began calling his inner circle.
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.’”
Couples will compete in his 40th Masters this April and says there’s no timetable on his farewell.
As for 1990s champs, four past winners have already ceased competing:
- Nick Faldo (1989, 1990, 1996)
- Ian Woosnam (1991)
- Ben Crenshaw (1984 and 1995)
- Mark O’Meara (1998)
Bernhard Langer (1985, 1993) said 2025 will be his final Masters.
In the timeline of champions, Couples would be next to depart.
“I can’t compete with Viktor Hovland or Jon Rahm or anybody, but I can compete with myself, and that’s really why I come,” Couples said. “That’s what I like to do: make the cut at an older age.”
Couples plans to play in two events between now and Augusta — the Hoag Classic (March 21-23) in Newport Beach, California, and the Galleri Classic (March 28-30) in La Quinta, California.
“I promise I won’t be grinding,” Couples said of the PGA Champions Tour events. “If I finish 60th, that’s OK. I have to be healthy for the Masters.”
For Couples, his 31 successful cuts at Augusta National ranks second to Jack Nicklaus. His 23 (1983-2007) consecutive cuts trails only Tiger’s 24.
And in 2023 — at 63-years-old — he became the oldest to clip the cutline.
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