Fred Couples calls on PGA Tour stars to "show a little more" for fans
Fred Couples, once one of the great entertainers in the sport of golf, believes there's one thing that needs to change for the modern age. He feels players need to remind the fans that what they're doing is fun and to show them a good time.
Couples said when asked if he had any advice on the current golfers on how to be better entertainers:
"What a question. Sometimes I sit and think about that, what did I do, you know, I mean when you play well you gotta give the people more than they expect. And when you play poorly, that's when it becomes, you don't want to do anything stupid."
The former PGA Tour star said that golf is a game of "happy things," but said, for example, that Rory McIlroy did the right thing by leaving after the US Open. He doesn't know what else he really could have done after such a heartbreaking loss, adding:
"We have to get people to love the golf again. Everyone loves to play golf, but I think it's got nothing to do with... LIV this or our Tour that. Our tour is really what I'm worried about, and I don't even watch their tour. I don't know if they're laughing and giggling all the time, but our guys need to show a little more."
Specifically, Couples really wants to see more fun and emotion from PGA Tour stars. While stating he doesn't watch a lot, he believes the "golf but louder" tour does a better job of that right now.
Fred Couples opens up on playing PNC Championship with stepson
Fred Couples is at the PNC Championship this weekend. The event is a mixed-team tournament for families, so pairings like Annika Sorenstam and her son or Tiger Woods and his son have populated the leaderboards in the past. Parent/child duos are very common.
This year, Couples is playing with his stepson, Hunter Hanneman. He said via ASAP Sports that he's "probably more fired up" about it than Hanneman. Couples added that his stepson might be in for a unique test.
"He's a great volleyball player, but to do this, it's a little different animal. Not saying -- he gets up early and surfs, we were laughing about that. But golf is a morning thing, and you've got to be prepared."
"For me personally, I've seen enough of it that every pro that walks off the 18th green says it was the greatest week of their lives. And if I don't say that, somebody better come and shoot me," Fred Couples said.
Couples is looking forward to competing this weekend alongside someone he doesn't usually get to spend as much time on the golf course with.