Boom Boom

Tiger Woods is going to be the greatest golfer that ever lived, in my opinion, and I don't think most people will disagree. But that doesn't mean he is my favorite. A player that both my brother and I model our swing after is someone who our father grew up watching and is the main reason why he started us in golf. Fred Couples has the resume and credentials of a Hall of Fame player and is, to this day, my favorite professional golfer. Plus, he shares the same middle name as me, even spelled the same.

Born October 3, 1959 in Seattle, Washington, Couples didn't start playing the game seriously until college where he played for the University of Houston Cougars. His naturally smooth and rhythmic golf swing gives him enough power to be nicknamed "Boom Boom."

His first win came in 1983 at the Kemper Open. Boom Boom didn't look back since. He has a total of 15 PGA TOUR events, which if you ask the average tour player is something to brag about, especially if three of those wins include 2 Players Championships (1984 and 1996) and a Major Championship with The Masters victory in 1992.

One of the highlights of the "amazingness" of Freddy "No Glove" Couples came from the 1999 Players Chapmionship. Couples tee's off on #17, the island hole and, like most of the other players, flies his ball into the water. Ignoring the drop area given, he re-tee's and pulls out a 9 iron. After watching that silky smooth swing and his calm and cool reaction you knew something special was going to happen. He flew it into the cup and still to this day is the only play to par #17 with an ace.

Just because Couples doesn't have 14 Major Championships or 67 PGA career wins, he is a player that I've looked up to as my golf game has progressed and will admire him until his last swing.