Fred Couples’ 1992 Masters win was iconic and had its moments. Take his tee shot at the 12th hole, for example. The ball miraculously stayed dry on the steep bank, preventing it from falling into Rae’s Creek. It eventually prevented a disaster and remains one of the key roles in his victory. After reliving those cherished moments for years, how would he react upon realizing he had missed out on fulfilling a long-held tradition? Exactly.
After claiming the title, the veteran golfer overlooked one of the Masters’ traditions, which calls for champions to donate their driver to Augusta National as a keepsake. He had no idea there was a tradition like that. However, back in 2021, he was randomly reading an email about Augusta and the great things about it, and he also saw his name as a guy not to give a club to Augusta National. He hilariously talked about it, saying, “To be honest with you, just seven or eight days ago, 10 days ago, there was an email out all about Augusta, the great things about it, and one of the things was my name was mentioned as the only guy to not give a club to Augusta National.”
Till then, he had no idea and said, “I had no clue. No clue at all.” However, the 1992 Masters champion eventually found the MacGregor Eye 85 driver, having a persimmon wood head, which he had used that year. Later, he took it to the Augusta National and finally completed the tradition after 7665 days.
He was sure that it was the driver he used to claim the green jacket. Because he kept it in a bin with a gold-plated Ping putter that the company gave to him after he won the Masters. “I do know that was my driver because I had it in a very safe place,” Couples said. Another exception, just like him, was Gene Sarazen. Sarazen donated the golf ball used for his famous albatross on the 15th hole in 1935. It was amusing and unusual for Couples to overlook this. But there are plenty of other things about the 65-year-old that make him truly stand out.
When golf legends borrowed and repaired iconic traditions
In 1962, Gary Player, the first international Masters champ, unknowingly broke Augusta National’s strict green jacket rule by taking his victory jacket home to South Africa. When officials realized it was missing, they contacted him, and Player cheekily replied, “If you want it, come and fetch it!” The two sides struck a deal—Player would return the jacket before the 1963 tournament and keep it covered. Since then, he’s kept it as a prized possession, now proudly displayed in his personal museum.
In 1982, on a different course at The Open Championship, Tom Watson was mistakenly handed the original Claret Jug from 1873. While at home, Watson accidentally knocked the historic trophy off a table, causing a dent. Not one to back down, he took it to his basement workshop, clamped it in a vise, and bent it back into shape, saving the trophy—and his legacy—one fix at a time.
So, Fred Couples isn’t the only golfer unintentionally highlighting golf courses’ commitment to preserving the integrity and traditions of the sport. Do you think their actions are justified? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
The post Fred Couples in Debt for Over 7,000 Days Since Messing Up at Augusta National, 29 Years After His Masters Win appeared first on EssentiallySports.
