Fred Couples returns to action on PGA Tour Champions with six woods in his 'old man's bag'

We haven’t seen Fred Couples on the PGA Tour Champions since late March in Newport Beach, California, where he withdrew during the second round. He tried to play the next week at the Galleri Classic in Palm Springs but pulled out just hours before the action started with a lingering back issue.

Couples did play at Augusta National for the Masters in April (did you ever think he was going to miss that?) but he shot 80-76, missed the cut but vowed to return in 2025.

This week, the Seattle native is feeling good enough to play his hometown event, the Boeing Classic at The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge in Snoqualmie, Washington.

Friday’s first round will be just his 10th on the season and he’s brought with him a unique mix of clubs.

“I have six woods,” he said in a PGA Tour Champions video on X. “Driver, 3-wood, 5-wood, 4-rescue, 5-rescue and a 6-rescue.”

You might call that an old man’s bag but he was quick to add that he’s “loving life” with this set up.

Couples tied for 26th at the Boeing a year ago. It’s been since March of 2023 that he’s posted a top 10. He’s playing alongside Steve Flesch and David Duval in Friday’s first round. There are eight regular-season Champions tour events before the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs begin.