Fred Couples was in debt to Masters for more than | Golf News

Golf icon Fred Couples, identified for his triumph on the 1992 Masters, just lately concluded a long-standing oversight by lastly adhering to an Augusta National Golf Club custom. Elsewhere, Jim Nantz faces calls to retire after Masters efficiency on CBS Sports.

For over 20 years, Couples was unaware that he had not adopted the ritual of donating the successful driver to the membership’s historic assortment. Couples, who etched his identify in golf historical past with a miraculous shot on the twelfth gap at Augusta, which narrowly averted Rae’s Creek – which was peed in by an beginner this yr – had inadvertently skipped the follow established because the first Masters in 1934.

“I had no idea,” mentioned Couples, reflecting on his unintended breach of custom. “I found out in 2021 when I got an email with some history and noticed my name listed as the only champion who hadn’t donated his club. I couldn’t believe it.”

After realizing the lapse, which spanned more than 7,665 days since his iconic victory, Couples rapidly positioned the cherished MacGregor Eye-O-Matic Eye 85 driver with its persimmon head—the very instrument that aided his main championship win.

“I knew exactly where it was,” Couples revealed. “It’s always been in a safe spot. That driver means the world to me.”

In a heartwarming show of sportsmanship, Fred Couples hand-delivered his MacGregor driver to Augusta National, rectifying a 29-year oversight and finishing the membership’s esteemed assortment of Masters champions’ golf equipment. This gesture not solely made amends but in addition highlighted the Masters’ deep-rooted traditions, which have often caught even golf legends off guard.

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The addition of Couples’ driver to the show, which already options iconic golf equipment like Tiger Woods’ 1997 metallic driver and Larry Mize’s 1987 sand wedge, serves as a testomony to the enduring legacy of the Masters. While Couples’ delay could have been the longest, different golf greats like Gary Player and Tom Watson have additionally had minor run-ins with Augusta’s unwritten etiquette guidelines.

As the golf world appears back on this uncommon story, it is clear that Augusta National is more than simply a venue – it is a guardian of the game’s traditions. For Couples, a beloved determine identified for his easy swing and affable nature, this long-standing “debt” has lastly been settled.

Although the membership has but to remark, one factor is for certain: Fred Couples’ MacGregor driver has discovered its rightful place at Augusta, almost three many years later. With that, the Masters custom stays intact and timeless.