AUGUSTA, Ga. — Remember the PGA Tour-LIV Golf tension this time last year? It was thicker than pimento cheese. The two tours were suing one another, the June 6 accord that no one, including players on either side, saw coming was still two months away from its CNBC coming-out party and golf fans rightly wondered if a food fight might break out at the Masters Champions Dinner.
And what about now? Times have changed.
The player hosting this week’s Champions Dinner is a member of a new team called Legion XIII in the LIV expansion.
Phil Mickelson’s confidence on social media has returned, and Jay Monahan and his team are working hard to negotiate a deal with LIV to help stabilize the men’s game.” “Next, we have Fred Couples.”
Couples has been openly critical of LIV Golf and its players who left the PGA Tour. He has expressed disapproval of LIV’s funding from Saudi Arabia, the format of the league, and its claims of changing the game. He has referred to Sergio Garcia as a “clown” and mentioned not speaking to Mickelson again.
Despite calling Mickelson a “nutbag,” Couples still has positive feelings towards him. Couples has shown a mix of strong and conflicting emotions towards LIV Golf and has not hesitated to voice his opinions.
Couples, who slipped on the green jacket in 1992, is making his 39th Masters appearance this week. He’s easing into the proceedings, as Couples does. On Sunday, he played a practice round with another past winner, José María Olazábal. On Tuesday morning, he played nine holes with Justin Thomas and a five-time green-coat winner named Tiger Woods. After Couples fielded a few questions about Woods’ game (“he looks really, really good”) and Couples’ chronically sore back (“I had some cortisone shots last week”), he was asked about whether his opinion on LIV has changed.
Couples’ answer? In short, a firm…sorta.
“I don’t think I’ll ever understand it,” Couples began. “Maybe I’ll go to one [LIV event] and see what it’s really, really like. I know how great they are as players. I get it all, and I get the 54 holes and you drive a cart to your tee and shotgun.
That’s easy to pick on. Sometimes I’ve picked on comments that people have made, and I’ve picked on comments that they talk about the Tour, which I’ve said I have now 44 years invested in, and I don’t want anyone picking on a tour that I think is very good.”
Couples won 15 times on Tour between 1983 and 2003. In 2013, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. He sees little value in the titles the LIV players are chasing week to week.
“Now, there is room for improvement in everything, but I must admit that if the LIV tour is considered better for golf, then I may be missing something there,” Couples mentioned. “However, I have no intention of criticizing them anymore. I will be meeting them all tonight. Do I enjoy attending this tournament?
Absolutely. Do I appreciate seeing the crowd gathering five days before, expressing their determination to win the green jacket? It reminds me of when I was 35 and in a similar position after winning the green jacket.” Couples was referring to the 13 LIV players in the Masters field this week.
Garcia posted a photo of the group on April 3 with the caption, “We aim to win the green jacket.” Couples suggested that there is no need to announce one’s intentions.
He pointed out that everyone participating in the tournament, such as Ludvig Aberg and Hatton, naturally aspires to win the green jacket. “Couples started to become more affectionate once more.”
He stated that he thinks their golf skills are excellent.
He expressed his admiration for DJ and Brooks, mentioning he is unsure if they even give feedback on the LIV Tour, as they simply focus on playing golf. Couples started to dig in once more.
He insisted that the LIV Tour is not comparable to the PGA Tour and preferred not to hear any arguments about it.
Couples and the other past champions will receive a speech from Jon Rahm on Tuesday evening.
The 29-year-old Spaniard will address his fellow winners at the Champions Dinner, sharing his thoughts on the significance of being among them. According to Couples, Rahm will host the dinner, providing delicious food and wine for everyone to enjoy. “All wounds will be healed with time. And enjoying a bit of Rioja wine can also be beneficial.”
“According to Couples, Jon Rahm is a great winner of this event and there are no problems with anyone.”