Fred Couples may be the coolest man in golf. And at this week’s Sanford International, he added to that lore.
At a Wednesday evening sponsor outing ahead of the event, there was a closest-to-the pin shootout from just off the green. Of course, Couples was the winner of the shootout — but it was how he won that is the stuff of legends.
With daylight fading over the clubhouse, Couples stepped up to his pitch and, with as smooth an action as ever, lofted his ball onto the green. As the ball rolled toward the hole, Couples turned around and started interacting with those around him.
Those who kept their eyes focused on his ball got to witness something they won’t soon forget. Some 20 seconds after the ball landed on the green, it finally came to rest — right at the bottom of the cup.
Naturally, the crowd went nuts. Couples high-fived and hugged everyone around him, and the fans got a story they’ll get to tell for dacades.
Was it the coolest shot Couples has ever hit? It’s tough to say. But for a man who has made a living off his unmatched aura, this only adds to his legacy.
