19th Hole
How Fred Couples expertly trolled Tiger Woods at the 2009 Presidents Cup
While doing an interview for the Champions Tour, golf legend Fred Couples told an interesting story about the 2009 Presidents Cup.
According to Couples, who was the captain for the 2009 American team, at the beginning of the week both the United States and International team puts a name of the player on their team who will have to sit out if one of the players on the opposing team is forced out of the match due to injury.
Greg Norman was the captain of the International team at the time, so both Couples and Norman gave the names of their chosen players to the head official Steve Carmen who put them in an envelope.
Couples and the American team went on to win the 2009, Presidents Cup, and Carmen was then tasked with bringing the envelope with the chosen player back to the team locker room after the victory.
Freddy then said to Carmen, “Why don’t you open it up in front of everyone and read the name in there?”
To everyone in the rooms surprise, the name Carmen proceeded to read was none other than Tiger Woods.
According to Couples, the room went completely silent, and everyone thought he was “[Couples] was such a clown that [Couples] put Tiger Woods’ name down as the guy who wouldn’t play on Sunday in case of an injury”.
For two years, Couples let everyone believe that he intentionally chose Tiger Woods to not play. The reality is, after the victory, Couples swapped out a different players name and replaced it with Woods’.
For weeks after the event, Tiger would text Couples saying “Dude, you got the biggest balls of anyone I’ve ever seen”.
Couples said that for two years “he took a lot of heck” for allowing everyone to think he was crazy enough to pick the greatest golfer of all time to sit out a Sunday match to potentially decide the winner of the Presidents Cup.
Each @PresidentsCup, the captains select a player they're willing to sit in case the opposing team has an injury.
You won't believe who @fredcouplesgolf picked to sit out for the #USTeam in 2009. ? pic.twitter.com/BVk6EPKTRv
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) September 15, 2022
More from the 19th Hole
- DP World Tour pro makes a hole-in-one and then gets disqualified
- Gary Player blasts Cam Smith’s LIV move and claims another major champ ‘had no money, so he had to go’
- Golfer suspected of cheating in wild disqualification incident at Q-School
- LIKE17
- LEGIT1
- WOW1
- LOL4
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK10
According to Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal, last week’s Open Championship suffered its lowest television rating in almost a decade.
NBC and Peacock drew 3.39M viewers on Sunday for Xander Schauffele’s two-shot win in @TheOpen, down 4% from last year and Brian Harman.
That’s the lowest number for the final round since Zach Johnson’s win in 2015, which finished on a Monday on ESPN (cable) pic.twitter.com/9r7guxnfx1
— Josh Carpenter (@JoshACarpenter) July 23, 2024
The final round was down four percent from Brian Harman’s win in 2023 at Royal Liverpool, which offered very little drama down the stretch. It was the lowest-rated final round since Zach Johnson’s win in 2015 at St. Andrews: and that was a Monday finish.
Stars such as Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland all missed the cut, which may have contributed to the lack of interest from casual golf fans.
This year, the Masters and The Open have decreased in ratings while the PGA Championship and U.S. Open saw an uptick. It’s fair to speculate whether the inclusion of Bryson DeChambeau deep into contention had an impact.
More from the 19th Hole
- Shane Lowry says this prevalent criticism surrounding Rory McIlroy ‘makes his blood boil’
- Brandel Chamblee on why he feels Rory’s game ‘deteriorates in the biggest moments‘
- Tiger Woods aims brutal dig at Colin Montgomerie
New here?
While you’re here, check out BK’s look at Xander’s Open-winning WITB.
- LIKE2
- LEGIT1
- WOW0
- LOL3
- IDHT0
- FLOP1
- OB0
- SHANK3
19th Hole
‘That looks brutal’ – First photo of Tiger Woods’ leg without sleeve shows depth of injury
It’s been a struggle of late for Tiger Woods on the golf course. The 15-time major champion has only teed it up five times in 2024, finishing 60th in The Masters and missing the cut in the other three majors. He also played in the Genesis Invitational and was forced to withdraw.
Woods has many ailments, but none as debilitating as his surgically repaired leg. Since his car accident three years ago, the 48-year-old has rarely been seen without wearing a leg sleeve. However, on Monday, a fan was able to take a photograph of Woods’ leg without the sleeve.
@blakebunkersgolf IG
??? #LOOK: A photo has emerged of Tiger Woods without his leg sleeve @TWlegion
(Via: blakebunkersgolf/IG) pic.twitter.com/ppaGLdXg8X
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 22, 2024
The photo was taken at an event Tiger’s son, Charlie, was playing in by “blakebunkersgolf” on Instagram, and one of the top responses on X towards the photo was simply “That looks brutal.”
Woods has struggled with the lack of reps on the course but hasn’t given any indication as to whether his schedule will look any different come 2025.
More from the 19th Hole
- Shane Lowry says this prevalent criticism surrounding Rory McIlroy ‘makes his blood boil’
- Brandel Chamblee on why he feels Rory’s game ‘deteriorates in the biggest moments‘
- Tiger Woods aims brutal dig at Colin Montgomerie
New here?
While you’re here, check out BK’s look at Xander Schauffele’s winning WITB.
- LIKE14
- LEGIT13
- WOW23
- LOL0
- IDHT3
- FLOP3
- OB0
- SHANK5
John Daly withdrew at last week’s Open Championship with a knee injury, but the 58-year-old was back on the links this week showcasing one of the most famous golf courses in the world for his fans.
While at Trump Turnberry, John Daly recorded a video of the 18th green.
In the video, the 1995 Open Champion shared his opinion that Turnberry is the best golf course in Scotland, even better than St. Andrews.
?????????? #BEST OF THE BEST — John Daly says Trump Turnberry beats out St Andrews for the title of best golf course in Scotland.
Do you agree?
(Via: @LGlick1) pic.twitter.com/Ya7FIJEfp2
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 22, 2024
“Hey everybody, John Daly here. I’m at Trump Turnberry today. I went out and tried to play a little bit. This place is amazing. It is the best golf course in Scotland, I think. St. Andrews is my baby, but I think I just found my new baby. I’m at the 18th green right here, this thing is unreal.”
Turnberry hosted its first Open Championship in 1977, which was dubbed “The Duel in the Sun” when Tom Watson beat Jack Nicklaus by a single stroke. The most recent Open the course hosted was 2009, where Watson almost won again, but lost to Stewart Cink in a playoff.
The course is not slated to host any Open Championships in the foreseeable future.
More from the 19th Hole
- Shane Lowry says this prevalent criticism surrounding Rory McIlroy ‘makes his blood boil’
- Brandel Chamblee on why he feels Rory’s game ‘deteriorates in the biggest moments‘
- Tiger Woods aims brutal dig at Colin Montgomerie
New here?
While you’re here, check out BK’s look at Xander Schauffele’s winning WITB.
- LIKE27
- LEGIT6
- WOW2
- LOL0
- IDHT1
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK18
Experts on understanding ground force and how shoes can impact your golf game
Three Swing Challenge: Testing the Edel Array F-2 putter
‘Most overrated course in the world!’ – Major champ rips ‘awful’ Pinehurst No. 2
Miura launches new forged wedge series
AimPoint under attack again as footage from U.S. Open enrages golf fans
What clubs do equipment free agents choose to use on tour? We found out
‘You’re right, we’re always wrong!’ – Sergio Garcia receives warning during Open qualifier
Rory McIlroy releases statement following crushing U.S. Open loss
Patrick Cantlay switched driver, irons ahead of the U.S. Open
Highlights from the Wilson Golf Product Testing and Fitting Experience at Pinehurst
Sahith Theegala WITB 2024 (July)
Sahith Theegala what’s in the bag accurate as of the 3M Open. Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees @9) Shaft:...
Billy Horschel WITB 2024 (July)
Billy Horschel what’s in the bag accurate as of the 3M Open. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Chris Kirk WITB 2024 (July)
Chris Kirk what’s in the bag accurate as of The Open Championship. Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke Triple Diamond (9 degrees)...
Keith Mitchell WITB 2024 (July)
Keith Mitchell what’s in the bag accurate as of the 3M Open. Obviously, Mitchell is deciding between putters for the...
-
Product Reviews2 weeks agoThree Swing Challenge: Testing the Edel Array F-2 putter
-
Equipment2 weeks agoWhat clubs do equipment free agents choose to use on tour? We found out
-
News2 weeks agoHighlights from the Wilson Golf Product Testing and Fitting Experience at Pinehurst
-
News3 weeks agoDavis Thompson’s winning WITB: 2024 John Deere Classic
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoMajor champ ‘disappointed’ not to be chosen as U.S. Ryder Cup captain
-
Whats in the Bag4 days agoXander Schauffele’s winning WITB: 2024 Open Championship
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoLIV pro explains how he believes players are ‘cheating’ on DP World Tour
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoIan Poulter explains decision to skip Open Championship qualifying
