D. Ryan Monceaux
Sports Editor
Fred Couples may be the easiest of the ex-Cougars to find. Every two or three weeks, Freddy is seen booming drives down the fairways of the PGA Tour. Couples is one of the fan favorites week in and week out on tour.
When we caught up to Couples last month at The Shell Houston Open, he was the hottest player on tour. With a win earlier in the season at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Couples came into the SHO with a renewed sense of drive.
"Well, my game has been on this season. Nearly winning and then getting outplayed at Augusta was disappointing, but it was a great learning experience. I will take that with me the rest of the season," Couples said just half of an hour before teeing off in the SHO's final round.
Couples went out and played great and shot a final round 68. However, David Duval eventually finished two shots ahead of him and won the annual event held at the Woodlands TPC.
Just one month later, Couples won The Memorial in Ohio, Jack Nicklaus' tournament. It was his second win of the season to go with two second-place finishes and his third-place at Houston.
His season had already included two second-place finishes, including a second place behind Mark O'Meara at the Masters and a second at the GTE Byron Nelson Classic in Dallas.
Along with wins at the Bob Hope and The Memorial, his season earnings have hit $1.5 million.
However, at last week's U.S. Open in San Francisco, Couples struggled most of the week before finishing at 17 over par, resulting in a tie for 53rd.
With the U.S. Open in perspective, Couples has still played some of the best golf of his career in 1998, and in his mind, the most enjoyable.
"There is no pain now. In 1991 and '92, I was constantly in pain. Winning was great, but the pain prevented me from truly enjoying the success."
The pain he refers to is a chronically aching back which has plagued Couples since his days at UH. In 1991 and '92, Couples was the PGA Tour's Player of the Year, and won his only major, The Masters, in 1992. Up until the 1998 season, Couples was hardly heard from since the Augusta victory.
"I had a few marginal years. The win at (The Player's Championship, 1996) was great and really gave me the confidence that is paying off now."
As a Cougar, Couples was a First Team All-American in 1979. His three seasons in Houston included six individual titles including the 1979 SWC Championship.
Couples played under legendary coach Dave Williams at UH. Williams recruited Couples from Seattle, Wash., to come to Houston solely on the reputation of UH's golf program.
"I did not know much about Houston, but I knew all about Dave Williams. He won everything and really made college golf what it is today. For that, I am thankful to Coach Williams and to UH."
Couples, now divorced, lives in Plano. Each year, he and fellow Cougar alums Blaine McAllister and Jim Nantz host the Three Amigos Golf Tournament, which raises funds for Cougar golf scholarships as well as three other charities.