Fred Couples’ latest LIV Golf take? At the Masters, he opened up again   

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Keep in mind the PGA Tour-LIV Golf rigidity this time final yr? It was thicker than pimento cheese. The 2 excursions had been suing each other, the June 6 accord that nobody, together with gamers on both facet, noticed coming was nonetheless two months away from its CNBC coming-out celebration and golf followers rightly questioned if a meals battle may escape on the Masters Champions Dinner.

And now? Totally different instances, man. This week’s Champions Dinner host performs for a LIV enlargement crew referred to as Legion XIII, Phil Mickelson’s social-media swagger is totally again and Jay Monahan and his C-suite are desperately attempting to dealer a cope with LIV to deliver much-needed stabilization to the lads’s recreation.  

After which there’s Fred {Couples}.

{Couples}, you may recall, has not minced words with regards to his disdain for LIV Golf and what it represents. His largest gripe is with these LIV gamers who’ve kicked the PGA Tour within the shins on the way in which out the door. However {Couples} additionally has aired different grievances. He has stated he doesn’t take care of the supply of LIV’s funding (Saudi Arabia), that the league’s 54-hole, no-cut format is foolish and that LIV’s proclamations that it’s altering the sport is laughable. He has referred to as LIV golfer and former Masters champion Sergio Garcia a “clown,” and, in 2022, told me that he didn’t assume he’d ever converse to Mickelson once more. Subsequently, {Couples} referred to as Mickelson a “nutbag,” but in addition admitted that he nonetheless “likes” him. So, yeah, with regards to LIV, {Couples} has had emotions — some unwavering, others conflicting — and he hasn’t been shy about expressing them.      

{Couples}, who slipped on the inexperienced jacket in 1992, is making his thirty ninth Masters look this week. He’s easing into the proceedings, as {Couples} does. On Sunday, he performed a follow spherical with one other previous winner, José María Olazábal. On Tuesday morning, he performed 9 holes with Justin Thomas and a five-time green-coat winner named Tiger Woods. After {Couples} fielded just a few questions on Woods’ recreation (“he appears to be like actually, actually good”) and {Couples}’ chronically sore again (“I had some cortisone photographs final week”), he was requested about whether or not his opinion on LIV has modified.

{Couples}’ reply? Briefly, a agency…sorta.  

“I don’t assume I’ll ever perceive it,” {Couples} started. “Possibly I’ll go to 1 [LIV event] and see what it’s actually, actually like. I understand how nice they’re as gamers. I get all of it, and I get the 54 holes and also you drive a cart to your tee and shotgun. That’s straightforward to choose on. Generally I’ve picked on feedback that individuals have made, and I’ve picked on feedback that they discuss concerning the Tour, which I’ve stated I’ve now 44 years invested in, and I don’t need anybody selecting on a tour that I believe is excellent.”

{Couples} received 15 instances on Tour between 1983 and 2003. In 2013, he was inducted into the World Golf Corridor of Fame. He sees little worth within the titles the LIV gamers are chasing week to week.

“Now, all the things can get higher, however let me let you know, if the LIV tour is best for golf, I’m lacking one thing there,” {Couples} stated. “However once more, I’m not right here to bash them anymore. I’m going to see all of them tonight. Do I like coming to this event? I adore it. Do I like 5 days earlier than it seeing the individuals standing there saying we’re coming after the inexperienced jacket? I imply, after I was 35, I used to be coming off the inexperienced jacket, too.”

The “individuals” to whom {Couples} was referring had been the 13 LIV gamers within the Masters discipline this week. On April 3, Garcia tweeted a photo of the group with the caption, “We’re coming for that inexperienced jacket.”

“I don’t assume you want to inform individuals what you’re doing,” {Couples} continued. “I imply, everybody at this event — you don’t assume Ludvig Aberg desires to win the inexperienced jacket right here, or Hatton?”

{Couples} started to melt once more.

“I discover their golf very, excellent,” he stated. “I like DJ. I like Brooks. I don’t know in the event that they even touch upon the LIV Tour. They only play golf.”

{Couples} started to dig in once more.

“So please don’t inform me the LIV Tour is nearly as good because the PGA Tour,” he stated. “I don’t wish to hear it.”

{Couples} will be listening to from Jon Rahm on Tuesday night. So will all the opposite previous champions right here. That’s when the 29-year-old Spaniard will, from the top of the desk on the Champions Dinner, make just a few remarks to his fellow winners about what it means to be of their firm. “He’s going to take a seat up there,” {Couples} stated. “He’s going to serve us all nice meals and wine and we’re going to have a good time.”

Time heals all wounds. And somewhat Rioja by no means hurts, both.

“Jon Rahm is an incredible champion of this event,” {Couples} stated. “I don’t assume there’s any points in any respect with anyone.”

Alan Bastable

Golf.com Editor

As GOLF.com’s government editor, Bastable is chargeable for the editorial route and voice of one of many recreation’s most revered and extremely trafficked information and repair websites. He wears many hats — modifying, writing, ideating, growing, daydreaming of sooner or later breaking 80 — and feels privileged to work with such an insanely proficient and hardworking group of writers, editors and producers. Earlier than grabbing the reins at GOLF.com, he was the options editor at GOLF Journal. A graduate of the College of Richmond and the Columbia College of Journalism, he lives in New Jersey together with his spouse and foursome of youngsters.