In preparation for his next trip to Augusta National, Fred Couples added a little mojo to his records and even traveled for some training sessions. But a recent trip did not help put the 1982 masters champion in a good place just before his appearance at the Hoag Classic in the PGA Tour Champions.
“I went to the desert to train,” he said, “and I fell ill, really sick. You know, I continued to put this coat because I was really sweating.”
And although it could slow down certain players, the disease did not seem to disturb the winner of the 14 times of the champions, who pulled a 67 during the first round at the Newport Beach Country Club, leaving him only three shots in advance.
Couples has only two starts under this belt this year on the senior circuit, but finished in the top 15 during the two events, including a T4 at the CHUBB Classic in Naples, Florida. But he has been swinging strong lately, hoping that he can maximize his length as a scanning of Magnolia Lane.
“I think that going out in the sun helped. I hit the solid ball. The following month, I try to hit my driver as I was trying to hit him as far as possible, and to be honest with you, I driven it very well today. I have led him from the Fairway on the 18th, but I did good,” he said. “I struck in the basement and the last 20 balls – you know, everyone does strange things, so I thought you know, here, I will start to swing physically as hard as possible. Now, I do it on the range.
“If I felt better, I would go doing it after my round too. This is my goal. If I can drive it like that today in Augusta, I will have a less club. Last year, I hit too much 200 yards.”
Couples give the update on tiger woods
The couples also spoke in front of the event of his friend Tiger Woods, who, according to him, is still in a good mood despite an injury from Achilles.
“He will be fine,” said couples about Woods. “He’s my man and sending him SMS is very fun.”
Brendan Jones has his head at the Hoag, but the couples are well within the capture of another champions crown, which he did for the last time at the SAS 2022 championship in North Carolina. There is a little additional incitement for couples in that it lives nearby.
“I am more worried about Newport. I try to play well here, I live here. You came here too. I love the golf course,” he said. “I could have drawn better, but even on the last hole, you know, I do not hear the ball with the putter blade, it is rather to hit it, and I left a lot of short putts.
“So (Saturday), I will try to be a little more aggressive, but I have to hit him as I did today.”
