GULLLANE (Scotland): He is not quite the young apprentice but Fred Couples will be looking and learning when he partners Muirfield masters Tom Watson and Nick Faldo in the British Open first round on Thursday.
Unlike his playing partners, the 53-year-old American has never lifted the Claret Jug and on his only previous appearance at the famous Muirfield links in 1987 he finished 40th.
But he said it is never too old to learn new tricks.
“I think it’s a unique pairing,” the laid-back Couples, whose easy smile and laid-back demeanour make him a favourite wherever he plays, told reporters on Wednesday.
“I’m really looking forward to it. I know their track record round here is great so I’m going to try and follow them around, hit the shots they hit and see if I can hit them better than I normally do. Otherwise it will be a long week.”
Couples is three years younger than Faldo, who won two of his three British Opens at Muirfield, and Watson, who came within a missed putt of an astonishing sixth title four years ago is approaching his 64th birthday.
“It’ll seem like 1980 all over again,” said Couples, whose one major triumph came at Augusta in 1992.
“I like Nick, he is one of my favourite players and I’ve been paired with him in the Open many times. It’s going to be most fun just listening to those guys talk about their records here at Muirfield,” he added.
Couples is teeing it up at the British Open for the first time since missing the cut at Hoylake in 2006 having qualified by winning the Senior Open last year.
He could barely contain his enthusiasm as he joined in with the banter on the practice range.
He said the first thing he did when he won the Senior Open at Turnberry was book a room at the idyllic Greywalls Hotel near Gullane - deep in the heart of Scotland’s golfing heritage.
“I missed it in 2002 when Ernie (Els) won, the year of the big storm, I didn’t have a part of that,” he said.
“But it’s an amazing tournament on a great course and I feel glad to be here. The first thing I did was get a room at Greywalls so I could relax and hang out and plan on playing all the time. If you don’t like this golf you shouldn’t really play.
“Augusta since I won there, it’s my favourite tournament but my favourite tournament I never won is The Open.” — Reuters
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