Fred Couples talks about Augusta, Michael Jordan and The Presidents Cup

As the 2011 Presidents Cup looms near, US Team captain Fred Couples took time out to answer questions posed by Aussie Golfer.

Everyone wants to swing a golf club like Fred Couples. Smooth, languid and relaxed, Couples' golf swing is a thing of beauty that sends the golf ball a long way and earned him the nickname "Boom Boom". His successful, if slightly under-achieving career had Couples win 14 PGA Tour events, including his 1992 US Masters victory.

Couples edged out Raymond Floyd by two shots at Augusta National in 1992, and included one of the most talked about moments in the history of the US Masters. On the final day, his golf ball did the impossible on the par-3 12th hole and stayed dry after coming up short. To this day no one can quite believe how it didn't roll back into the water like every other golf ball. But it didn't, and the rest is history.

Couples' record in major golf tournaments is incredible. His 25 Top-10 finishes (eleven at Augusta National) puts to shame the other nickname he is often given, "Mr.Skins", which refers to his success in the Skins format where he has earned over $3.5million in 11 appearances.

His much publicised back problems have possibly robbed the Seattle-born Couples of more tournament victories, if not a few more majors, and during the last decade he has had to deal with the suicide of his ex-wife and the death of his estranged wife due to breast cancer. It makes you wonder how he still manages to appear so laid back and at peace on the golf course.

The golf career of Fred Couples is far from finished. The enviable swing is still as fluid as ever and he finished 6th at the 2010 US Masters, 15th this year and has won five tournaments on the Champions Tour.

He is the captain of the US Team headed to Australia for the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne in November, the site of the only loss the US have had in this event. With this in mind (and with thanks to ECCO Golf Shoes) we're stoked that Fred Couples was happy to answer a few questions about his love of Augusta National, the role of Michael Jordan at the Presidents Cup, and to give us his thoughts on how the US Team is shaping up.

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Golf has given you a fair bit of personal refuge over the years. Where does it sit now in your life and how important is it for you to continue to compete?

I have often said that I am a golfer and I like playing and competing very much. Other than the back issues that I have had over the years, competing has always been very enjoyable to me. Now I am in a better place with my back, and I hope to be able to compete at the level that I have in the past, and that I can continue to play for some time to come.

You’ve previously said you don’t miss all the attention from golf and can easily go for weeks without touching a golf club. Given the frustration with your back problems, have you ever thought about giving the game away?

As I just said, I do love playing, but sure, at times the game can be frustrating. And for me, when my back was not good, my frustration level was even higher. However, now that I am feeling better, I am very optimistic about playing at a level where I am happy, and I hope to continue at this level.

You’ve said Augusta and Riviera are favourite courses of yours. Without naming any, are there any you really dislike and why?

Courses I really dislike? No, but there are obviously some courses that fit my eye better than others. This is the same for me as it is for everyone who plays.

What is it about Augusta that brings out your best? Does it suit your game particularly or do you have better knowledge of where to miss than most golfers?

Clearly, I have said many times that Augusta is one of my absolute favourite courses, along with Riviera. I have many years of playing experiences at Augusta, and that does give me, or any other player who has been at the Masters many times, tremendous knowledge based on your playing experience. Someone who is coming there to play for just the first or second time has not been in as many playing situations, and that can make it more challenging at times.  But I simply love Augusta.

Most people very clearly remember your tee shot on 12 at Augusta in 1992, the  ‘hole-in-one’ for par at Sawgrass and even Seve Ballesteros fondly recounted the bunker shot you holed in the 1991 Ryder Cup. What shots do remember most fondly?

You have just picked out 3 of the most memorable shots in my career. It is impossible to understate the importance of that tee shot on the 12^th hole at Augusta in 1992, as it lead to the biggest victory of my career.

Let’s move on to the Presidents Cup in Melbourne in November; There has been some talk about the potential lack of experience in the US Team for the President’s Cup in November. How concerned are you?

I am very happy with how the U.S. Team is shaping up for the Presidents Cup matches. There is a mix of veteran players with match experience, and also a group of great young players who are playing terrific golf and bring a lot of enthusiasm to the team. I like the combination of the two, and I think we will have a fantastic team.

I’d love to hear more thoughts on Rickie Fowler. Along with a few other young golf stars at the moment, he appears to have a great maturity about him.

You know, obviously Rickie is a very talented young golfer, but there are lots of younger stars coming up on Tour.  They all have great playing backgrounds, lots of tournament experience, and are mature and capable. Given all their playing experience in amateur and college golf before getting to the Tour, they play well fast, and they certainly have done well in a number of tournament weeks this year.

Michael Jordan is making his first ever trip to Australia, reprising his assistant captain’s role. What did he bring to the team in ’09 and why is he going to be important to have around?

Michael brings a number of positive things to the team, and it was absolutely awesome to have him there with us in 2009. Everyone loves being around Michael, and he was especially helpful in working with a couple of the younger players on the team. This year will probably be even more fun for us, and he’ll be even more comfortable with his role. I have confidence in his contribution to the team, and I know that the players are anxious to have him be part of the team again this year.

If a Presidents Cup tie was to be decided by 18 holes of matchplay between the team captain’s, do you think you could handle Greg? (back and shoulder injuries aside)

Well, that would be an interesting way to settle the matches. You know, Greg and I have both been playing for many years and we have competed together in more events that I can even count. We both have had great careers, and I think we would put on a great match together. It’s fun to think about, but maybe the best for both of us would be to see our team players settling the match instead of their captains.

Bloke in café thinks Tiger Woods has lost his mojo

Every man and his dog seems to have an opinion on whether Tiger Woods will ever get back to his best. It is has been that way since Tiger got up close and personal with a fire hydrant in September 2009. But the truth is, no one really knows.

I interviewed a random bloke in a random café this week and asked him for his opinion. He may not hold as much weight as what Johnny Miller or Nick Faldo thinks of course, but my reaction to his opinion was the same. A general glazing of the eyes and a want to go and do something else.

Of course, the only reason why everyone has an opinion of Tiger Woods and his dimming aura is because he was the best golfer of our current generation who won 14 major titles. And arguably, he is the greatest golfer of all time, if it wasn't for that pesky major record of Jack Nicklaus'.

Putting aside the argument that too much emphasis is placed on winning major's for a minute, the reason we hear end up hearing what people have to say on Tiger Woods is because it is asked of them. I can't really image Padraig Harrington stepped out onto the course back in August itching tell everyone he has finally formed an opinion on Woods.

"I still believe when he turns up and plays well in a given week, I think he’s well capable of winning any major he plays in". Harrington must have been dying to tell somebody after coming to that conclusion, and was probably relieved when someone asked him soon after the eureka moment struck.

In the past two weeks Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, Jack Nicklaus, Rory McIlroy and Nick Price have all given their opinion on whether the former great can be great once again. But I'm not sure anyone cares. (A no, no, yes and no respectively if you do care).

Jack Nicklaus is hardly going to say 'no' being the likeable chap he is, and although most people who are asked have some relationship with the game of golf, no one really knows. Not even Woods knows but it hasn't stopped him giving his own opinion on whether he can break Jack's record of 18 victories at majors. (A 'yes' if you care).

Perhaps rather than a golfer forming an opinion on Woods becoming news, we should just set up a web page to get everyone to register their thoughts on the matter and be done with it. In 50 years time, when we know for certain how many majors Tiger Woods ends up winning, we can open the internet vault and congratulate everyone that was right. And stick it up those who weren't. Provided anyone still cares.

I'd love to hear someone respond to a question about Tiger breaking Jack Nicklaus' record with the only reasonable answer possible; "I have no idea, we'll just have to wait and see". That goes for you 'bloke in the café'. I promise not to bother you again.

Rules of golf: More on the water golf shot

I've been doing too much thinking about playing golf shots from the water lately. 

I wondered what would happen if the ball moves as you take your stance. Say you remove your shoes, enter the shallows and the ripples you create moves your golf ball?

I asked rules guru Barry Rhodes from none other than the Rules of Golf at www.barryrhodes.com for an answer and he directed me towards a the decisions section of the rules of golf.

Decision 14-6/1 is relevant to your question;

Q. A ball was at rest in shallow, rapidly-running water in a water hazard. After the player had carefully entered the water, walked to the ball and addressed it, the ball moved, presumably due to the current. What is the ruling? 

A. There is no penalty. The player may play the ball from its new position or, under penalty of one stroke, take relief under Rule 26-1. Rule 14-6 overrides Rule 18-2b (Ball Moving After Address) in such a case. 

When a ball is in water and it is not clear whether the player’s actions caused the ball to move, he should be given the benefit of the doubt and no penalty should be applied. However, if the player’s actions clearly caused the ball to move, he would be subject to a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a and required to replace the ball. For example, if a player were to jump into the water close to the ball and in so doing create a splash that moved the ball, he would be subject to penalty under Rule 18-2a.

Now we know, so be careful when entering the water. If it's obviously you who was the direct cause of the ball moving, it is a penalty stroke and must be replaced.

Westwood wants a fifth major, in Asia or Australia

Lee Westwood wants what many of us want; a fifth major.

The HSBC Champions website has reported that Lee Westwood likes the idea of having a fifth major, and preferably somewhere in the East, like Asia or Australia.

"I like the tradition of the Majors. I think the men's game has got it pretty much right, although I'd like to see another Major somewhere else in the world. Somewhere like Asia or Australia," said Westwood, ahead of the WGC-HSBC Champions event to be held in early November.

He also had a few things to say about the predominantly American based World Golf Championship events.

"The World Golf Championships should move around and encapsulate the whole world because it's in the title of the tournaments. They should be played by players from all over the world and be played all over the world. China's an emerging market for golf; there's so many courses being built, people taking up the sport and people getting interested in the sport."

It is nothing really profound if you live anywhere outside of the USA, but it is great to hear one of the world's leading golfers actually say it. Let's hope the momentum surrounding this idea can now start to roll on. The only question I have is, who decides?

Seve: The Movie

There are plans to bring the life of Seve Ballesteros to the big screen.

The golfing world mourned when Seve Ballesteros passed away in May this year after a long battle with a brain tumour. Ballesteros was victorious in over 90 professional tournaments including five major wins. Three times British Open champ and twice he donned the green jacket at Augusta.

Now comes news that the early life of Seve Ballesteros is to be told on film. British producer Stephen Evans (The Madness of King George and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind) will looks at his life from the age of 16 to 19.

The film will lead up to his incredible second place finish at the 1976 British Open. At only 19, Ballesteros lead after three rounds finishing in a tie for second spot with Jack Nicklaus, six shots behind eventual winner Johnny Miller.

Ballesteros played golf with a clichéd Spanish temperament. Most rounds featured moments of absolute brilliance punctuated by moments of absurd golf that made him a joy to watch.

A look at how his temperament, life and of course his golf evolved should be fascinating viewing. Stay tuned.

The putter gets a new face

Broomstick putters, belly putters, white drivers, thick handles. Just when you thought nothing else could be redesigned in golf comes along this little creation from MxVGolf.

I don't know a lot about MxVGolf (Mass x Velocity) but it seems a curved putter face is what they do, and it's a strange looking thing.

Based on the idea of  Newton's cradle, the putter supposedly gives you a more accurate strike towards the true centre of gravity of the golf ball.  It appears that it will prohibit putts from striking the lower half of the ball, with the putter face having exactly the same radius as a golf ball.

The putter will be released in the US in December and it is not surprising to hear it comes in the belly putter variety.

Never mind goals, Kewell's set for the golf course

It didn't take long for Harry Kewell to get his golf gear sorted out. 

Check out more photos below, he's only been in the country a month or so after deciding to join Melbourne Victory, but Harry Kewell has already attracted the interest of Callaway Golf Australia. He visited the Callaway Performance Fitting Centre in Melbourne last week for some new clubs.

Kewell is known to be a keen golfer and looks to have a pretty nice swing. I'm guessing his grip is a little tight at the moment but once he finds the back of the net, his golf game will only get better.

Photos courtesy of Callaway Golf Australia and Callaway Golf Australia Facebook page.