Fred Couples at the PNC Championship in December.
Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images
There comes a point in almost every golfer’s life where they realize it’s time to ditch the long irons and move to hybrids.
For many, this involves ditching the 4-iron in favor of a 4-hybrid (hopefully the 3-iron is long gone!), but in the case of Fred Couples—the 1992 Masters champion who played on tour in an era when the 1-PW was still the norm of bells- he walked slowly.
Back in September, the couple showed off a golf bag full of covers! Seven, if you count the putter, that’s part of the bag! He had a driver, two fairway woods and three hybrids, making the 7 iron the longest iron he has played. GOlf’s Josh Sens wrote about the new program and people flocked to learn why the “Boom Boom” just shattered golf’s stigma.
Fred Couple’s six-wood/hybrid setup
The defining signs of aging: gray hair, white back, golf bag full of hybrids.
These days, Fred Couples checks all those boxes. But even at 64, with a silver lining, various aches and pains, and a slower-than-ever swing speed, the famously self-effacing veteran retains his youthful spirit. And he’s not too proud to make fun of himself.
The reminder came on social media from Pebble Beach, when Couples played in the Pure Insurance Championship in September, the PGA Tour champions. Captions are the classic couple: cool, collected, self-deprecating.
With a camera on him as he stands on the yard of the par-4 8th hole, Couples is asked about the number of woods and hybrids he now owns. There are six in total.
“Everyone keeps talking about them,” he says of his new setup. Some golfers may be shy. Couples simply reverse the stigma. “I’m like, so I got my long 7 iron. Who cares?”
The former World No. 1 winner with 64 majors to his name, including the 1992 Masters, Couples was one of the game’s greatest hitters in his prime. Well, his nickname was ‘Boom-boom.’ And, despite lingering back problems, his painful swing still has pop.
But age takes a toll on every golf game, and, as Love explained at the Masters earlier this year, the long and medium irons aren’t good for his cool back.
Informed by his caddy that he has 177 yards to the green, Lovers doesn’t hesitate in choosing a club.
“A little 6-recue for the boys,” he said before changing direction to get the nod from his playing partner, Jay Haas.
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“6?” Haas asked.
“6-recue,” answered the couple. “Better than 5. You know, I couldn’t hit that with a 6-iron. I’m not strong enough anymore. I hate to say that.”
He was quiet for a while. The grins.
“It’s very soft,” he says.
A beloved moment for any golfer facing the ravages of time, delivered by a longtime Hall-of-Famer with Everman appeal.
There are also some interesting stories in the post, including a small explanation of why he wipes the floor with a towel before shooting (“It’s a bad habit,” he admits), and a story about his ex-husband, Joe. La Cava, who used to catch lovers by telling him that his game had “too many things.”
“Very strong. It’s very difficult,” said Couples. “How many balls do you want to hit? Not too many.”
When Couples are at their best, fans can never get too much.
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