In LIV, “Boom Boom” found a big target he couldn’t ignore, and he’s pulled no punches with some of the most notable players in the game. In one rant at a California PGA Tour Champions event in March, he called Sergio Garcia a “clown” and former Ryder Cup teammate Phil Mickelson a “nutbag,” though he admitted the latter is among the 10 best players of all time.

Said Couples at the time, ““If you’re giving Phil Mickelson $200 million at age 52 to shoot 74 and 75, God bless you.”

As it was then and now, Couples’ biggest peeve is players going to LIV and talking less about the money they’re getting than the draw of what’s different about the Saudi Arabia-backed circuit that features 48 players, 54 holes, no cuts, team play and enormous purses.

Appearing on Monday night on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, the 64-year-old, 11-time tour winner was again on a roll in the aftermath of the move of World No. 3 Jon Rahm to LIV. Last week, after he signed his deal reportedly worth at least $500 million, Rahm said, “Obviously the past two years there’s been a lot of evolving on the game of golf, things have changed a lot and so have I. Seeing the growth of LIV Golf, seeing the evolution of LIV Golf and innovation is something that has really captured my attention.”

That kind of talk makes Couples go off.

“Don’t sit there and then go on and say, ‘they’re changing the game,’” he said. “What are they changing? Actually, for 50 years, golf has been changed. Arnold Palmer changed it. Jack Nicklaus changed it. Tiger Woods changed it.

“The LIV Tour ain’t changing a thing.”

Couples acknowledged that players can choose to compete wherever they want, but doesn’t want to hear that money makes LIV great.

“One hundred million doesn’t get it; $200 million doesn’t get it; $300 million doesn’t get it, but for $400 million, it’s a great product, and it’s a great show?” Couples said. “OK. Tell me the next guy … ‘I’m going for free, boys. I love this [LIV] tour. I don’t like the PGA Tour anymore.’ No one’s going to do that.

“I wanna see the next superstar say, ‘I’m going to LIV, you know why I’m going? Because it is unreal.’” [The PGA Tour plays] Riviera, and they play TPC Phoenix in front of 300,000 people. I want ’em to go for free. Then go on CNN, and every TV show, and say why they’re going is because it’s that good.”

Main Image: Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire

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In trying to make sense of his Ryder Cup snub, Keegan Bradley described himself as an “outsider”. One of US captain Zach Johnson’s assistants, Fred Couples, implied Bradley might be on to something on his radio show.

First, though, Couples denied that there was any such thing as an “outside”, before later admitting that Bradley not being as close with some of the younger players on the team may have (slightly) factored into his non-selection.

“There’s no ‘outside’,” Couples said. “I saw Keegan Bradley’s statement. I left him off the team (as 2011 Presidents Cup captain) when he won a PGA. It’s the harshest thing you can do to a guy.

“I feel like it’s the players’ team, but you can’t have guys telling the captain: ‘Here’s who I want, should be on it,’ unless you’re a Jordan Spieth or a Scottie Scheffler, or a [Patrick] Cantlay.”

Bradley, 37, is only three years older than Rickie Fowler, one of Johnson’s six captain’s picks. But Fowler, Spieth and, perhaps the most controversial captain’s selection, Justin Thomas, are all very close friends. And then there is Sam Burns, who grabbed the final spot on the team and is expected to be paired with his close friend, Scottie Scheffler.

Couples suggested that all the captain’s picks were made with pairings in mind.

“Now they’re picking other guys that may not have the record of Keegan, but they pair them up perfectly,” he said.

“I like Keegan. He’s an older guy, and he’s not in tight with them. If that had 20 per cent to do with it, I won’t argue that.”

Automatically qualifying would have been the way to avoid all these what-ifs for Bradley, but that doesn’t make them any less painful to think about. While he’s certainly not old, he’s not getting any younger, and his fine play over the last two seasons, which included impressive wins at the 2022 Zozo Championship and the 2023 Travelers Championship, did seem like enough to earn Bradley a third-career Ryder Cup appearance.

Unfortunately for Bradley, simply playing better isn’t the only thing factored into captain’s selections any more. With that in mind, don’t be surprised to see Bradley getting extra cozy with some of the younger players over the next few years with an eye on the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

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Fred Couples seemingly doesn’t care for the hoopla — or the secrecy surrounding it for that matter. Not when you consider he appeared to have just announced the US team’s plans regarding some of the on-the-bubble boys on his aptly named “The Fred Couples Show” earlier this week.

???? #RYDERCUP — Assistant Captain Fred Couples casually confirmed on @SiriusXMPGATOUR the 3 players he believes are locks to make the ?? team: “I’ll say Max Homa’s gonna be in Italy, without getting anyone in trouble…. Cam Young will be in Italy….“Jordan Spieth?” …Will be… pic.twitter.com/AWXnt3RIEi

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 27, 2023

It’s not as if Couples is only loosely connected to the team and thus his guessing is more hearsay than reality. The man is a Team USA assistant captain. Seems like the definition of an insider, no? So hearing the following comments naturally gets your attention.

“Max Homa’s going to be in Italy, without getting anyone in trouble,” Couples noted during the programme. “Cam Young will be in Italy. Jordan Spieth will be in Italy.”

So matter-of-factly. Does showmanship mean nothing anymore?

When pushed by co-host George Downing if Keegan Bradley will make the Ryder Cup cut, that’s where Couples had to slow down. “I’m stopping,” he said at this point.

As of today, the top six Americans on the points list who would automatically qualify for Rome are Scottie Scheffler (who the PGA of America announced Wednesday is a mathematical lock to make the top six), Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Brooks Koepka, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay. Homa, Young and Spieth are seven through nine in the standings, so these aren’t the most daring of choices, but it’s still shocking to announce locks this early. Harman recently jumped up 17 spots with his Open victory.

If this line-up stands, that would leave three spots open for the likes of Thomas, Bradley, Tony Finau, Collin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler and Sam Burns. JT struggled with his game of late, missing the cut at three of four majors and posting scores in the 80s at both Los Angeles Country Club and Royal Liverpool. He’s looking for some late-season magic at this week’s 3M Open to return to form.

“I’m glad he’s playing this week,” Couples said. “The whole world knows that JT’s gotta go to, is it Minnesota, and then Greensboro? He’s gotta go to those places and play well.”

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It was first reported on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Championship that Tiger Woods’ long-time caddie, Joe LaCava, had made a permanent move to Patrick Cantlay’s bag. He replaced Matt Minister, known by the nickname “Rev”, who has worked with Cantlay since 2017. But if fans were hoping Cantlay’s Wednesday press conference in Charlotte would shed more light on the situation, they were disappointed.

Cantlay, striking a matter-of-fact tone, confirmed the basic facts of the switch — that he let Minister go after the Zurich Classic and is bringing LaCava in as a full-time replacement — but wouldn’t elaborate on the cause of his split with Minister or any dialogue with Tiger Woods.

In fact, Cantlay revealed only two new nuggets — that Fred Couples was the facilitator, to a degree, and that he didn’t communicate with Woods in any way during the process.

“I’ve been friends with Fred Couples a long time,” Cantlay said. “He’s been in Newport Beach for a number of years now, and we’ve played a lot of golf together. So I’ve heard a number of great things about Joe … when I reached out to Joe, he said it was possible and [it] ended up working out. I’m really happy about it. … I haven’t spoken to Tiger.”

LaCava, however, did speak with Woods, getting his approval. Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg told ESPN that “you shouldn’t read anything more in to that other than Joe wants to caddie. He loves it. It’s his passion”.

Cantlay called LaCava a “steady hand on the steering wheel”, and added: “I know he’s been in every moment a caddie could be in and he’s just a good guy.”

As for Minister, Cantlay’s words sounded slightly prepared, in the manner of a press release.

“We accomplished a lot together, and I’m really proud of all we accomplished,” he said. “He’s a great friend of mine, and we had a lot of good finishes together and a lot of wins. So I’m incredibly grateful to him. Just needed a change.”

Minister was on Cantlay’s bag for eight PGA Tour wins, including three playoff events, the latest of which came at the BMW Championship last August. Cantlay’s play in majors has been less impressive, with just three top-10s in 24 tries, which the 31-year-old tour pro chalked up on Wednesday to an anomaly. If that had anything to do with turning to LaCava, he gave no indication of that, and it’s doubtful he will at any point in the future.

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Fred Couples knew the questions about LIV golfers were coming. He has been rather outspoken about the circuit, calling out recruits, several of whom are former Masters winners, including Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia. The two are part of an 18-strong LIV contingent at Augusta National this week.

Last month, at a breakfast before the PGA Tour Champions’ Hoag Classic, Couples called Mickelson a “nutbag” and said, “If you’re willing to give Phil Mickelson $200 million [signing bonus] at age 53 to shoot 74 and 75, God bless you.” He also called Garcia “a clown”.

Couples will see Mickelson and Garcia on Tuesday night at the Champions Dinner. On Monday, after a nine-hole practice round at Augusta with Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Tom Kim, the 1992 Masters champion was asked by a reporter what he’s expecting during the evening?

“For food?” Couples joked.

The 63-year-old then addressed the remarks he has made about LIV golfers. “I’ve made comments, but they need to understand if they’ve looked at anything I’ve ever said, I call myself the same stuff I’m calling them,” Couples said. “I have no problem with any of them, just please do not bash a tour that I have 43 years invested in. It bothers the hell out of me.”

Couples said he would be happy to talk to any LIV golfer who took umbrage with his comments.

“No, if one wants to stop and ask why I’m picking on them, then I’m all for it,” he said. “But I don’t really think I’ve done anything horrific. They’re making comments, and I’m replying to them. That’s it.”

Another player Couples has spoken out against is Cameron Smith, calling out one of the reasons Smith has mentioned for leaving the PGA Tour — which was to attend more weddings of family and friends in his native Australia. “I find that comical, because my favourite to ever play has five kids, 40 grandkids and he has never missed anything — and that was Jack Nicklaus,” Couples said before the Hoag Classic.

Smith was confused by the swipes, which included a Twitter jab last September, when asked by News Corp Australia at LIV’s Orlando event last week. “Considering I’ve never met him, he’s been very strong on me,” Smith said.

“I respect them all,” Couples said on Monday. “Brooks Koepka, I love, Dustin Johnson, absolutely love. On my [radio] show I’ve told everyone, Sergio is one of the top 10 players I’ve ever seen hit a ball, but if he’s going to make comments about the tour that I play, I’m going to make a comment back, and if it’s offensive I apologise, but they’re on another tour. Go play and have a good time.”

As to any tension that might play out at the Champions Dinner, Couples didn’t think there was anything to worry about, even as four other LIV players join Mickelson and Garcia (Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel and Johnson).

“It will be a great dinner, [it] will be a lot of fun,” Couples said. “I’m not expecting anything different. I sit in a great spot … down by all the beautiful people that I’ve sat with … Nicklaus, Tiger Floyd, [and] Sandy Lyle.”

Couples went as far as saying he would welcome a Thursday grouping with three-time Masters winner Mickelson. “People have asked me are you going to get paired … I’m like, I would love to be paired with Phil,” he said. “I mean, he’s one of the best players that ever played. He loves this place as much as I do, and if we did, we’d look at each other on the first hole and we’d have a good time.”

And as for LIV golfers competing in the first place? Again, Couples noted he had no problem with the decision Augusta National or any of the other majors made in allowing those who had qualified for the events to continue to be able to play in them.

“Was I in agreement with that? Yeah, I think they deserve to be here, the ones that have won {Masters] and others. Bryson has won a major. Yeah, they should be here.”

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I was diving into the Golf Digest archive ahead of the Masters this year, and in the April 1993 edition of the magazine, came across this fantastic golf swing sequence of a young Couples, preparing to make his return the The Masters following his victory the previous year.

He rose to World No. 1 with that win, and the smooth, rhythmical swing that he became known for became a household fixture among avid golfers of the world.

Which is why, ahead of his Masters defence, legendary teacher Harvey Penick gave a frame-by-frame breakdown of Couples’ swing.

1. Vs pointing to right shoulder

Fred Couples. Golf Digest

The first thing Harvey Penick noticed was Couples’ strong grip, “with both Vs pointed at his right shoulder,” he writes.
While a stronger grip could help prevent slices from ballooning out to the right, in Couples’ case, he matches a strong grip with lots of body rotation.
“Anyone with a strong grip has to make a fast turn and get their left hip out of the way,” he explains, adding that Couples flaring his left foot out towards the target helps him increase his rotation. “He couldn’t make that fast a hip turn without his left toe being turned out.”

2. Big, free turn

Fred Couples. Golf Digest

The big rotation wasn’t confined to Couples’ downswing, though. It started on the downswing, with a shoulder turn of more than “100 degrees of rotation,” Penick writes. A big backswing turn that remains balanced is something the rest of us can and should learn a lot from young Couples.
“My teaching is that the left heel should rise in the backswing if it wants to, but Fred’s doesn’t want to. Fred is so flexible that he stays in balance and shifts his weight without his left heel needing to rise,” Penick writes. “It would help the average golfer to take a free swing as Fred does. That doesn’t mean a loosey-goosey swing, but one that is free.”

3. Right over left

Fred Couples. Golf Digest

The “magic move” in Couples’ swing is in his release, Penick writes.
“His right arm rolls over his left which has maintained and guided the swing arc and does not break down,” he says. “His right arm is pouring in the power. This crossover of the right arm delivers enormous clubhead speed and prodigious distance.”
It’s rolling his right arm over his left, while extending both of his arms, which creates a “powerful whipping motion” that transfers maximum energy from the golf ball, into the clubhead. He may not have realised it at the time, but there’s been some good science in recent years underlining the importance of a full release of the arms and wrists.
It’s the combination of lots of body lotion, with a full release of his club, that helped Couples be so efficient with his power. He made it look effortless because he was so good at transferring the speed he created with his body into the clubhead. It made for some nice viewing for the rest of us.

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With a seemingly endless flow of money, LIV Golf was able to entice major champs like Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau to join the Saudi-backed league. And yet, Will Zalatoris could not be budged.

According to Fred Couples, Zalatoris rejected multiple offers from the league, including a nearly $100-million jump from a $35 million initial proposal to a $130 million follow-up.

Couples and Zalatoris share an agent, potentially where the golf legend got his numbers from.

“I don’t know anything about the LIV Tour, except they overpay all of them,” Couples said to the Orange County Register.

Zalatoris has quickly become a PGA Tour mainstay. The wunderkind finished runner-up at the 2021 Masters, lost in a playoff to Justin Thomas at the 2022 PGA Championship and was an oh-so-close putt away from forcing a playoff with Matt Fitzpatrick at Brookline’s US Open, all of which must’ve enticed LIV Golf to make an offer and then boost it dramatically.

Despite the LIV bid, Zalatoris will remain on the PGA Tour and looks to continue his dramatic climb.

“Money is zero object [for LIV],” Couples said. “I give Will a lot of credit. He wants [to stay with] the PGA Tour.”

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Anyway, the man who is as smooth at spinning a yarn as he is at spinning a wedge was at it again ahead of this week’s Mitsubishi Electric Championship to kick off the 2023 PGA Tour Champions schedule. On what’s also the eve of the American Express on the PGA Tour, Couples recalled initially working with longtime caddie Joe LaCava ahead of the 1990 event, known back then as Bob Hope Classic.

As Couples tells it, the two hopped in his Cadillac Escalade (In case you don’t remember, Freddie was a big Caddie guy back then) from his Palm Springs home located eight miles from one of the tournament’s courses, Bermuda Dunes. Despite the proximity to the course, Couples got lost somehow, and he says LaCava, sitting in the passenger seat, was “livid”.

After finally finding the course, Couples says LaCava, “Grabbed the keys out, he drove home, and he drove every day for 22 years.” So from that moment forward, LaCava was both Couples’ caddie and chauffeur. Have a listen:

Joe LaCava drove @fredcouplesgolf to every event for 22 years. ?

All because of a mishap Fred made in the desert. pic.twitter.com/lwt1PXdld6

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) January 17, 2023

To be fair to Freddie, this was in the pre-GPS days. Still, that should have been a nice little 10-minute drive tops, so that’s pretty bad.

UNLESS, Freddie did it on purpose so he wouldn’t have to drive anymore. In that case, he’s a genius.

The post WATCH: Fred Couples reveals the really good reason why caddie Joe LaCava was also his chauffeur for 22 years appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

OK, let’s tee this tale up by saying it involves Couples, caddie Joe LaCava, and a ‘missing’ 7-iron. We put that word in quotations because as you’ll learn, LaCava knew exactly where the club was. Because he left it back on the other side of the country.

Oh, and this tale took place 30 years ago. So why is it coming up now? Well, LaCava’s son was on Couples’ bag for last week’s Boeing Classic on the PGA Tour Champions. And in a pre-tournament video shared by the tour, it happened to come up. And it’s a story that Joe Jr can certainly be proud of. Anyway, take it away, Fred:

"Where's my 7-iron?"@FredCouplesGolf tells an amazing story from 1992 involving his old caddie Joe LaCava.

He's got Joe's son on the bag @BoeingClassic. pic.twitter.com/cXSXrH1eCg

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) August 12, 2022

Absolutely amazing. In case you couldn’t get the video to play, essentially, Couples tossed a 7-iron he used for the last shot of a tournament to the ground in disgust and LaCava refused to pick it up. When they were practicing the following week, Couples finally noticed the missing club and asked where it was. “It’s back on the 18th hole where you left it.” Boom.

What a legendary looper move. Joe just left it there. Even though it was the 7-iron of his boss. Who happened to be the reigning Masters champ and World No. 1 at the time. Talk about a bold career choice.

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By Joel Beall
Patrick Cantlay is a man of many talents, as his Sunday performance at Caves Valley suggested. He is a second-shot savant. A lights-out putter. A stone-cold assassin. And, apparently, a reporter.

When speaking to the media following his BMW Championship victory Sunday night, Cantlay broke some news—perhaps accidentally—on the upcoming Ryder Cup.

With his third win of the season, Cantlay secured the sixth and final automatic bid for the American team. Cantlay was asked what it meant to make his first Ryder Cup squad, and in the process revealed this tidbit.

“Yeah, I’m excited. Fred Couples texted me this week and said it looks like he’s going to be one of the assistant captains, and so he’ll be up there,” Cantlay said.

For what it’s worth, Couples has not been announced as an assistant to U.S. captain Steve Striker. Those honours, publicly at least, have gone to Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson and Davis Love III. Though the role historically has been ceremonial, assistants have become a bigger part of the Ryder Cup experience over the past 15 years.

“I’ve been talking with Xander, obviously, and J.T. and Jordan, and we’re really looking forward to it,” Cantlay continued. “It’s nice to get in on points. I think that’s the case. And I’m really looking forward to that whole event. I’ve heard so much about it and watched it growing up. I mean, I’m sure it will be everything I’ve imagined and more. I will lock in there, and hopefully we’ll get a victory.”

Cantlay did play on the 2019 Presidents Cup team, scoring three points for the Americans in a victory at Royal Melbourne. As for Couples, he has been a Presidents Cup captain three times, and was an assistant for Stricker at the 2017 Presidents Cup.

The Ryder Cup begins Sept. 24 at Whistling Straits.

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