Ryder Cup motivates Couples

Fred Couples is so excited about the Ryder Cup in Ireland in September that he is thinking of attending as a spectator.

But that is only if he does not make it as a player and in San Diego this week Couples can make more significant progress towards a return to the American side.

The 46-year-old faced compatriot Sean O’Hair in the first round of the Accenture World Match Play Championship at La Costa today.

Nine years after his last appearance in the match – an appearance which ended with him thrashing Europe’s current captain Ian Woosnam by a record eight and seven margin – Couples stands 10th in the race for places.

But even if he cannot keep hold of an automatic spot the former Masters champion will hope to show enough form that captain Tom Lehman gives him one of his two wild cards just as Jack Nicklaus did for the Presidents Cup last September.

Couples did not let Nicklaus down, beating world number two Vijay Singh in the final day singles as the Americans won a nailbiting encounter.

On Sunday, Lehman, himself in the running to earn a place in his own side, said at the Nissan Open: “It’s nice to see Freddie playing well. But I am happy to see any American playing well.”

When he said it Couples had just taken a share of the lead in the tournament. An hour later he had bogeyed three of the last four holes and had dropped to fourth.

On a possible Ryder Cup comeback Couples told PA Sport: “It gives me something to pay attention to.

“It’s a big deal – whether you are 20 or 50 you want to be on that team. And with it being in Ireland there’s a chance I might be there whether I make the team or not.”

Couples has become friends with golf-loving Irish businessmen JP McManus, Dermot Douglas and John Magnier over the years and added: “I appreciate what they have done for all the golfers – it’s over the top.

“I would just love to be there playing in the match and I am going to be giving it my best shot. I think I can do it.

“I don’t feel my age is a factor, but I feel my back is a factor. I am going to try to play a little more, but when it acts up I go home and rest.

“I am going to have to do it with quality, not quantity. Being picked for the Presidents Cup was a thrill and gave me a lot of juice.”

On his victory over Singh, he said: “I think I have played him three times (winning two and halving the other). I can kind of lull him to sleep.

“I happened to beat him because I just was a little more excited about the whole thing.”

And he would be at the K Club near Dublin.

Couples has some mixed memories of Ryder Cup games. The low point was losing the crucial match with Christy O’Connor Jnr at The Belfry in 1989 – O’Connor hit a two-iron to three feet on the last and Couples then missed the green with a nine-iron.

But two years later he scored three-and-a-half points out of five at Kiawah Island and he was part of another winning side back at The Belfry in 1993.