Fred Couples at 50+ Could Be the Next Hale Irwin Juggernaut

It is hard to argue against the claim that Hale Irwin is the most dominant Champions Tour player in its history.  Since starting on the 50+ junket in the summer of '95 and through 2005 - basically a decade - Irwin owned the tour.  In that time span, he notched 44 Champions Tour victories.  That total is double his PGA Tour win tally.

Already enshrined in golf lore for having won three US Opens, Irwin's legend only grew in the senior circuit (not the National League).  He came out swinging in the summer of '95 by winning twice in twelve tries.  Irwin finished no worse than 12th in that first year and inside the top ten in ten starts.  He didn't even finish outside of the top 20 until July 1996.  The guy was the Tiger of the Champions Tour.

Irwin's run is clearly over though he is still formidable.  Without a real superstar whose reputation preceded him from the PGA Tour, the Champ Tour has struggled to carve a niche even among golf fans.  Perhaps that can change now with Fred Couples.

Yes, it is very early to lay such pressure on the shoulder of the '92 Masters champion, but Boom Boom is shooting 50% early in his Champions career.  Were it not for the seemingly ageless Tom Watson, Couples would be off to a perfect start.  Couples' form has inspired way more ink to be written about the tour than it saw to this point last season, and probably more than the first half of last season.  He is a transformative figure wherever he is, including his new home.

Couples' great start certainly is not unprecedented for the Tour.  Guys like Jay Haas and Loren Roberts came out of the gate like Rachel Alexandra.  And Couples has had problems closing like Barbaro did.  But the kind of flare and fanfare that Couples brings to any tournament he plays not only gives the Tour's PR staff an easier life, but a distinct advantage among his peers.

Couples is not a particularly intimidating figure, but his calm is only matched by the man who finished runner-up to him on Sunday - Tommy Armour III.  If Couples is able to maintain back health and a decent putting stroke (since the Champ Tour really is a short game contest), then he could take over control of the tour in a hurry. 

Though Couples does not have quite the majors resume as Irwin does, his amazing run of consecutive cuts made at Augusta - also panned sometimes as a putting contest - proves that the guy has serious short game skill.  Add to that record the fact that Couples has effortless power and the seed may be planted for Freddy to take over the 50+ game.  Seems appropriate for an old soul like him.