AUGUSTA | Late Sunday night, Fred Couples received a call in anticipation of the next day’s schedule. At the end of the line, an old friend.
Tiger.
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“Get ready, tomorrow, 3 p.m., you will play with JT [Justin Thomas] and me. See you on the mound. »
The friendship relationship between Woods and him has endured for decades. It’s not just about golf between the two men. He never interferes in her strategies and doesn’t even give her a thumbs up in her spied outings here and there.
They share events from their personal lives, their children’s successes, business advice and travels. Their ties are so strong that Couples never dared to reveal anything about his friend. The 62-year-old claimed he was one of “his best friends”.
Impressed
On Monday, the 1992 green jacket champion said he was impressed with his chum for a long time.
“It’s a phenomenon. He hit bombs with his wood and he executed solid iron shots. He followed JT all afternoon. His way of behaving is very impressive. »
“This march is brutal, he recalled. With what he has been through since his accident 14 months ago, managing to walk this course is something. From what I’ve seen, I’m sure he’s going to play on Thursday. It’s only Monday, that’s true. But he is playing and he is preparing, ”he said in a convincing tone.
A few months ago in Florida, Woods had already informed him that he was aiming to run for Augusta.
Couples isn’t surprised to see it in this shape. In his eyes, he said in a press briefing on leaving the ninth green, the Tiger “is the best golfer of all time. We give him time and he manages to launch himself in this way. It’s phenomenal. It’s surreal. »
The one who continues to battle back injuries and who was juggling whether or not to participate in this edition certainly didn’t want to look crazy trying to keep up with his linemates on Monday.
Inspired by his game and his companions, “Freddy” feels ready to take the start. Even before showing up on the first mound on Monday, the atmosphere reigning on the property reminded him of the good old days.
The thousands of spectators gathered around the facilities of the magnificent practice field and the thousands following his group reminded him of the intense days of the final round since his first appearance in 1983.
According to him, Woods is so strong that if he manages to continue for 72 holes, his name could appear on the main draw.
