First time for everything

  • By Rich Myhre Herald Writer
  • Thursday, August 25, 2011 12:01am
  • Sports

SNOQUALMIE — A year ago, Seattle native Fred Couples was back playing golf in the Puget Sound area for two memorable tournaments.

And the only disappointment to those otherwise joyous homecomings was that he failed to win.

Couples, who groomed his game at Seattle’s Jefferson Park Golf Course and later at O’Dea High School before heading off to the University of Houston and then the PGA Tour, placed second to Bernhard Langer at the 2010 U.S. Senior Open at Redmond’s Sahalee Country Club. A few weeks later Couples was third at the Boeing Classic at Snoqualmie’s TPC Snoqualmie Ridge, a tournament also won by Langer.

But Couples is back to try again at this week’s Boeing Classic, and this time he has a full head of steam.

Last weekend, the 51-year-old Couples won the Senior Players Championship at Westchester Country Club in Harrison, N.Y. Couples prevailed on the third hole of a playoff with John Cook.

While in New York, Couples told PGATOUR.COM, “To be honest, this is perfect. … I was shooting to be pretty much on my game by Seattle. It’s a big deal for me, obviously.”

Couples was not at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge for practice rounds earlier in the week — in fact, he was not expected to show up until today — but his appearance again figures to be the major storyline in this week’s event. He has always been a huge fan favorite wherever he plays, but never anywhere more so than in his hometown.

“The biggest disappointment I’ve had out here (on the Champions Tour) is not winning in Seattle,” Couples said.

Though he missed out a year ago, it could happen this week, according to two friends and rivals on the 50-and-over Champions Tour.

“He’s on a roll,” said Kenny Perry, who played with Couples for the first two of four rounds last week. “He’s putting really well and he’s driving the ball nicely. So I don’t see why he can’t (win back-to-back tournaments).”

“He loves being able to come back and be in front of the home folks,” said Blaine MacCallister, who roomed with Couples in college. “It’s a lot of pressure playing in front of your home fans, but at the same time I think Fred’s one of those guys that handles it very well. And he proved that last year when he played the (U.S.) Senior Open at Sahalee.

“Fred is one guy that’s it’s hard not to pull for,” MacCallister added. “And it’s nice to see him out here. He’s such a huge draw for us on the Champions Tour.”

Couples, who traveled to Germany earlier this year for extended treatment on a chronically ailing back, will be one of several contenders in this year’s tournament. Six players — Tom Lehman, Cook, Nice Price, Olin Brown, Jeff Sluman and Russ Cochran — have victories and Champions Tour earnings in excess of $1 million this year.

Also on hand will be Langer, Loren Roberts and Tom Kite, the winners of the last three Boeing Classics, helping to make this perhaps the most competitive field in the tournament’s seven-year history.

Top players keep showing up because they enjoy the golf course, the fan support, the contributions of corporate sponsors like Boeing, and the area’s scenic surroundings.

“This is such a wonderful place to come,” MacCallister said. “When you get to a golf tournament where you’re smiling before you even get here, you know it’s enjoyable. … You feel like you’re at home when you come up here.”

This is Perry’s first appearance at the Boeing Classic, and he quickly fell in love with the setting.

“It’s beautiful,” said Perry, who played in last week’s Senior Players Championship. “It’s totally different, going from New York to Seattle. … To go from the hustle and bustle of New York, the grind and the fast pace, to all of a sudden you can kind of catch your breath when you get here, that’s what I really like and enjoy about this place so far.

“And I love the big trees. The evergreens or fir trees or whatever those are, they’re beautiful. It’s just pretty out here.”

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