Fred Couples has voiced his disappointment on not getting the Ryder Cup captain’s job for 2016 and sit on the Icons Cup head table yesterday as Darren Clarke’s equal as far as the biennial tournament between Europe and USA is concerned.
Couples is in Dubai where he is leading Team USA against Clarke’s Rest of the World side in the inaugural Icons Cup which will be played at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club from Wednesday.
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Both Couples and Clarke were favourites to be named as captains before the actual announcements were made. As was expected, his Northern Irishman rival was handed over the task of ensuring Europe won a fourth successive Ryder Cup, but the Task Force set up by the PGA of America decided to vote for Davis Love III as the American skipper.
Love, who formed one of the most successful partnerships in Ryder Cup for America with Couples, will be doing a second stint, having been at the receiving end of Europe’s Miracle at Medinah in 2012.
Couples has led USA in the Presidents Cup against Rest of the World for the last three editions. Under his leadership, the USA won all three, before stepping down for this year’s tournament.
Captain @DarrenClarke60 and Fred #Couples at the @iconscup press conference today. #golf @Sport360 pic.twitter.com/O64L0TejVt
— Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyofGolf) April 22, 2015
When asked if there was some frustration in not getting the job, Couples said: “I think there was an outside shot and which is why we were both asked (to become the Icons Cup captains).
“When we agreed to this, I thought Darren had 75 per cent chance of becoming the European Ryder Cup captain, and I thought I was more than 50. As it turns out, he is 100 per cent the guy and I am zero.
“To be honest, it is disappointing, but they picked a great guy in Davis and my time might be the next one.
“I thought I had as good a shot as any other guys getting it and it would have been unbelievable to be for both of us to be Ryder Cup captains and be sitting here. I am thrilled for David, and I am certainly happy for Darren.
“I am put off by not getting it this time. But having said that, if they ask me for 2018, I will certainly jump at it and accept it.”
Great 2 meet Fred Couples @iconscup @DubaiCreekGolf #legend pic.twitter.com/v2jKFPFP3i
— Alan White (@alanwhite1888) April 22, 2015
Couples also spoke of his admiration for 21-year-old Jordan Spieth, who became the second youngest Masters winner earlier this month with a record-breaking performance.
“I watched on television the whole of Saturday and Sunday, and I would agree that there is not a single part of the game that he does great, but he does every part of the game well,” said Couples.
“I shot my worst score in 25 years at Augusta National, but I thought the conditions were easiest this year for scoring. But don’t get me wrong…Jordan would have still won had the conditions been a lot tougher, because that’s how good he was.
“I think these are just great times for the game. You’ve got Rory, who is 25, and you’ve got Jordan, who is 21. We can’t put Jordan in Rory’s throne yet, but it is exciting to sit back and watch their rivalry.”
