Why does Fred Couples love Augusta National? He gave the answer ‘stupid’

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Why do you like Augusta National?

An idiot’s question.

Maybe it shouldn’t have been asked. Not until Thursday, when he reset the clock on the 14/18th of the first round of his Masters, was he again shut out with the par-5 15th (quadruple bogey), the par-3 16th (double bogey) and the par-4 17th (double bogey). Nine-five-four. Dial that on the phone, but never on the golf course, if you want to answer the bell.

Perhaps such a stupid question should not have been asked following the brutal incidents on 3 12 and 15. Thirty-four years ago on the 12th, his ball somehow landed on the way up the green, leaving Rae’s Creek dry. This Friday, after he had backed off a few times before swinging, his ball landed in the same spot, rolled the same amount of fall – he got a drink. On Thursday’s 15th, he found a bogey protecting the green twice on his way to that back nine. On Friday, he bowled one ball into the water, a short one with an edge. He quickly grabbed the new yellow Bridgestone, swung again and landed safely this time. “I’ve never dunked it or teed it 15 yards off the green,” said the couple. “In the old days I always wanted it, but not for 10 or 12 years, and now it’s water, water, water every time I look at something bad, I don’t know why.

Perhaps a stupid question shouldn’t have been asked as Fred realized that his singularity to most people – one of the best ever to hit a stand-up ball – was no longer evident over time. In top-level golf, birthdays add both candles and strokes. On Thursday at the Masters, he shot a 78. Friday, aged 75. Perhaps this year is the last for the 66-year-old, although it is unlikely. But maybe next year. His farewell is coming.

And yet, maybe now is the right time to ask. He had expressed his feelings forward of this year’s Masters. What do they say in wedding vows? For better or for worse, for rich or poor, in sickness and in health? Do you still love something when things don’t go your way?

And he was there on Friday, still beaten. He was bouncing as he drove the par-4 9th after a short landing wedge, and every man, woman and child got a fist-pound on the way to the 10th. On the way to the 11th place, he passed a rope path, lifted another rope about 50 meters to the left of it and just walked among the people. The five boys looked up from their green beer mugs to see him in front of them. His swing at 14 was the epitome of “tempo.” But it was the way he walked. Communication. The driver’s head hits point blank range before he leans against the club to grab his tea. His head throbbed. Chest-forts face the ball in the middle of the green fairway under a cloudless blue sky. Walking up the 17th fairway, he licked his finger again to clean his driver’s face. Standing on the 18th tee, he licked his golf ball to remove a little dirt.

But the fans love it. They love him. If the Masters had a green jacket mascot, it would be Lovers, who won the green jacket in 1992. Ask the second guard how his day is going, and he’ll tell you about “the king” who arrived first. Ask US Mid-Am winner Brandon Holtz who he’d like to play a practice round with, and Fred’s name comes up first.

So let’s ask about that.

Why does he think the patrons like him?

“Well, I’m better here than the other tournaments. I can be honest about that. I’ll give you a real answer.”

We wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I have a lot of respect for this place. I have a lot of respect for golf.”

And that’s part of what I heard when I asked:

Why do you like Augusta National?

Here are his first 114 words.

“You know, you’re a kid growing up watching. I can’t tell you, you know, Sam Snead and what he did, Hubert Green, and then Jack Nicklaus winning and Tom Weiskopf. They were all greats. Weiskopf, Green, Sneed, they never won, and maybe they should.

“Then you come here, and you finally see it, and you go, you know, – I mean, the only other guy I’ve heard use the same words is Phil. [Mickelson]. It’s like paradise. People love it, but I consider it the greatest adventure you’ll ever have.

“There are good studies all over the world, but none like this.”

Here are the last 31 words of Fred Couples’ answer:

“First of all, you’d have to be an idiot not to like Augusta National.

“>