Meet Your New Golf Ambassador...Fred Couples

Fred Couples is arguably in the top 100 coolest guys on the planet.  Seriously.  The ease with which he succeeds at golf, his pretty laid back demeaor (despite innerworkings to the contrary), and his whole aura really just screams cool.  If I could play golf with him and Tommy Armour III for the rest of my life, I would be set.

Boom Boom has been fairly lax about his scheduling and commitment to golf over the years.  Butch Harmon has said that Couples lacks motivation.  Considering that back injuries have really hurt Couples' career and he has had a personal life filled with ups and downs,   It's understandable, but true because his at the mercy of the cooperativeness of his body.

That in mind, would we ever have imagined that Fred Couples' involvement in golf would expand once he reached his elder golfing years?  Couples is the captain for this year's Presidents Cup at Harding Park. And now, he is also the Honorary Chairman of the 2010 US Senior Open at Sahalee in his native Washington.

Couples will aid in the promotion of the championship by appearing in a ticket sales advertising campaign. He will also host an exhibition during the week of the championship, in which he will provide swing tips and give demonstrations to the spectators.

 

Couples will become eligible for the Champions Tour on Oct. 3, 2009, when he celebrates his 50th birthday. Couples has earned a one-time exemption into the 2010 U.S. Senior Open by virtue of being a Masters Champion. It will be his first U.S. Senior Open and the first time he will be playing competitively at Sahalee since the 1998 PGA Championship.

 

“It is an honor to serve in this capacity for the U.S. Senior Open and the USGA,” said Couples. “Add to that the opportunity to play my first Senior Open in my hometown in front of the Seattle fans, and it will truly be a great week.”

Yes, Couples has not been able to play to the level all of us would love because of injury.  Clearly, though, that hasn't made him love golf any less. 

In his Pres Cup singles win against Vijay Singh in 2005 at RTJ, we saw a rare burst of emotion from Couples when he sank the winning putt.  He shows emotion when he is in contention and really seems to revel in the moments when he plays well.

It's good to see Freddy entering this kind of role.  He is one of the people that real golfers love.  Having him around the game in any capacity is good for our sport.