Fred Couples on Ryder Cup captaincy: ‘My days are long gone’

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AUGUSTA, Ga. — Fred Couples dispelled any idea that he’s in the running for U.S. Ryder Cup captain next year at Adare Manor in Ireland.

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With Tiger Woods seemingly out of the mix for a 2027 captaincy many had him pegged for, there has been discussion brewing about who will lead the Americans, and the popular Masters winner’s name has come up.

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“My days are long gone on that,” Couples said after shooting a three-over 75 on Friday to miss the cut at the Masters.

Couples is a five-time Ryder Cup player, a three-time assistant captain, and has captained three winning U.S. Presidents Cup teams.

Captaincy ‘a hard job’

“I would be a good assistant and help, but (the captaincy) that’s a hard job,” he said.

“Not that I wouldn’t want it, but I’m a little old to be worried about what kind of stuff they got to do,” he added. “But they’ll pick a good one. I don’t know who. Maybe Keegan (Bradley) again. It would kind of be interesting, but I don’t know.”

Couples is known for his ability to bridge generations. At 66 years old, he continues to ooze coolness and maintain strong relationships with players less than half his age, something that undoubtedly works well in a team atmosphere.

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“I’m a little more loosey goosey. Sometimes I think that really helps,” he said. “I don’t like a lot of the other garbage, excuse me, I don’t like a lot of other things you have to do. I think you need to worry about the players only and not other things, and I think that would help us.”

Couples had the attention of Masters patrons this week for good and bad reasons. On Thursday, after working his way onto the leaderboard at two-under par through 14 holes, he made a nine at the par-5 15th, and followed it up with back-to-back double bogeys to shoot a six-over 78.

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He deposited three golf balls in the water over the ugly first round stretch, including two with wedges after laying up nicely at the 15th.

After putting yet another ball into the water at 15 during Friday’s round, it sounded as though he has seen enough of that particular hole for quite a while.

“I’ve played 41 years, and I don’t need to go back. I’ve never wedged it into the water,” he said. “In the old days I went for it every time, but not for 10 or 12 years, and then now it’s water, water, water every time I look at the God damn thing, and I don’t know why.”

Couples’ love affair with Augusta National is mutual, and he was asked on Friday what is so special about Augusta National.

“First of all, you would have to be an idiot not to love Augusta National,” he said.

“It’s like paradise. People love it, but I consider it to be just the greatest walk you could ever have,” Couples added. “There are great courses all over the world, but there are none of them like this.”

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