Fred Couples: Augusta Sleeper

We’re off and running at The Masters and if you needed anyone to root for because you hate the prospect of Tiger Woods or Boobs Mickelson adding another Green Jacket to their closet, may I suggest local boy done good Freddie Couples.

It’s not completely outlandish that Boom Boom could pick up another win at The Masters and some prognosticators say he has a legitimate shot this weekend. Couples is the guy’s guy of golf. He grew up playing the munies of Seattle, including Jefferson and attended O’Dea High School before going to college at Houston. Most on the PGA Tour love getting paired with Couples because it’s like playing a round with a buddy on a Sunday morning. Couples will shoot the shit, keeping everyone loose – even in the pressure cooker of professional golf.

His Masters victory came in 1992, but here are what some blogs and media outlets are saying about him:

Fanhouse: If there is a place that Fred Couples can play, it is Augusta National. The guy has missed one cut (incidentally '08) in 24 trips to the Masters, and is playing some swell golf this year with his t-3 at the Northern Trust and t-3 at the Shell Houston last week. He loves Augusta and mentioned after his disappointing final round last Sunday that it is his all-time favorite place, so playing some good golf has to get Freddy excited about it. If his back can hold up, Couples can be a factor, even at 49.

Wall Street Journal: At age 49, Fred Couples was tied for third last week. He missed his first Masters cut ever last year, but was third at the Masters in 2006.

Golf Digest: In 2008, Cool Hand Fred failed to make the cut at Augusta National for the first time in 24 Masters starts. He tends to play well at tournaments he likes, and this one is his favorite.

Golfing News: Plenty of the players have given folks something to talk about going into the event, such as … Fred Couples: And back to the nostalgia. “Boom Boom” finished third in 2006, and third last week in Houston, so he has some momentum going now, unless last year when he missed the cut.

Santa Rosa Press Democrat: Fred Couples: “He’s been playing well. It’s not that crazy, considering his record at Augusta. It might be a matter if he can make it to Sunday.”