‘Woods Is The Best I’ve Ever Seen’ – Fred Couples

The 1992 Masters winner thinks no one's as good as Tiger

Fred Couples and Tiger Woods at the 2020 Masters
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Golf legend Fred Couples has declared Tiger Woods the best player he has ever seen.

The 62-year-old American took to Twitter to make the claim and offer his congratulations to him on his imminent induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Couples said: “I’m so excited to tune in and see @tigerwoods inducted into the @golfhalloffame by his daughter Sam tomorrow. Just another accolade for the best I’ve ever seen. The guy is hall of fame to me in every way. Congrats Tiger.”

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Couples has only one Major to his name – the 1992 Masters. However, he can also count two Players Championships among his 64 professional wins. Meanwhile, he also has a string of other awards and achievements, including the PGA Tour Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992. He also won the Byron Nelson award in the same years, and as part of the PGA Tour Champions in 2010, 2012 and 2013.

Those achievements were honoured in 2013 when Couples was himself inducted into the Hall of Fame. At the ceremony, Couples thanked the audience for “taking a kid from Seattle and putting him in the Hall of Fame.” He then broke down in tears as he declared: “This is the coolest night of my life.” Clearly, Couples doesn’t think there’s a more deserving player around than Woods to follow in his footsteps.

Tomorrow’s ceremony in Northeast Florida will see Woods introduced by his 14-year-old daughter, Sam, to recognise the 15-time Major winner’s achievements in the game. It was announced two years ago that Woods would be inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2021. However, the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic saw the ceremony put on hold. Now, the 46-year-old will finally receive his honour, alongside fellow inductees three-time US Women’s Open champion Susie Maxwell Berning, retired PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem and former US Women’s Amateur Champion, Curtis Cup captain and pioneering female golf course developer, the late Marion Hollis.

Couples’ show of support for Woods isn’t the only time he’s praised him in recent weeks, either. Last month, amid speculation over the reported Saudi Golf League, Couples again took to Twitter to declare how pleased he was that Woods and other big names had pledged their loyalty to the PGA Tour.

There are signs that brighter times are ahead for Woods after a year out of the game following a horrific car accident in February last year. While hosting the recent Genesis Invitational, he walked relatively freely up the steps to the clubhouse. Then, last week, he was named winner of the PIP award, earning him $8m. Now with his Hall of Fame induction and support from the likes of Couples, Woods’ return to the public eye is gathering momentum.

Mike Hall
Writer

Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories. 


He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game. 


Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course. 


Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.