Talks between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf have hit another impasse, raising questions if professional golf’s cold war is about to heat up. But, as witnessed in Tuesday’s practice round at Augusta National, least one schism-related beef has been put to bed.

Last month, former Masters champ Fred Couples asserted on a radio show that one of LIV’s marquee attractions was not long for the Saudi-backed circuit. “I talk to Brooks Koepka all the time. I love Brooks Koepka, and I’m not going to say anything extra except I talked to him all the time,” Couples said in a radio interview on KJR 93.3 FM in Seattle before adding a bit more that started speculation about Koepka’s status on LIV Golf. “He wants to come back. I will say that I believe he really wants to come back and play the tour.” Couples has not been shy of throwing the occasional haymaker at the defector league, although this one was not unfounded. There have been rumors of Koepka’s interest in a return for years, and Koepka hasn’t exactly been the biggest advocate of LIV has of late, saying as recently as last week that he thought the league would be further along than it is. Even at the 2023 Masters, after Koepka returned from the competitive wilderness, the bruiser admitted that—had he known his physicality would be revived after fearing his body had betrayed him—he didn’t know if he would have left for LIV.

Still, Koepka was quick to dismiss Couples’ remarks.

“I don’t know where I’m going, so I don’t know how everybody else does,” Koepka said at LIV’s Singapore event. “Right now I’m just focused on how do I play better? How do I play better in the majors, how does this team win? And then we’ll figure out next year and how to play better again. It’s the same thing. It’s just a revolving cycle.

“Yeah, Fred texted me after, I guess, the comments came out,” he continued. “I don’t know when it was. Sometime last week. Yeah, everybody seems to have their own opinion, and no one asks me. I talk to Fred quite a bit, but we don’t go too much into detail about what’s going on. Like I’ve said before, I’m not in those rooms. I’ve got a contract obligation out here to fulfill, and then we’ll see what happens.”

Which is why it was interesting at the Masters on Tuesday that Koepka and Couples played their practice rounds together, with Justin Thomas and Adam Scott rounding out the foresome.

Speaking after the round, Couples explained how he and Koepka have been planning this session for a couple weeks.

“Brooks and I were going to play and then Tiger and JT and I always play, so when Tiger couldn’t, I called JT and then Adam Scott and I had talked, so we got a nice little foursome,” Couples said. “And then Brooks and I wanted to play a few more and the course is awesome, so it was nice to go play 1, 2, 8, and 9, too. But it was a great foursome. These guys all hit it amazing. And then to meet Nick Hardy the last couple holes was fun too.”

Couple clarified that after the comments came out that he and Brooks discussed the headlines, and maintains that he and Brooks are good.

“A lot of times at Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups I sit with Brooks and his wife and my wife. I love Brooks,” Couples said. “Basically what I said was is what everyone else is saying, but then someone else turned it into like I wanted him to leave the LIV Tour and come play the PGA Tour. I just basically said, you know, Brooks would like to play the PGA Tour; not leave the LIV Tour.

“So anyway, he and I are great. We had a good time. We talked basically a little bit about his brother and then we were talking little bit about clubs. He just hits it so far and he hits it so solid. But basically it was a one-minute thing, but I had already talked to him before. And he’s a good man. I like Brooks.”

As one of the negotiators between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia, Scott’s presence in the group is notable. Given that Thomas and Couples are close friends with Woods, who’s leading these talks, Koepka’s inclusion might seem worthy of analysis. But that is a discussion for another day.

Main Image: Richard Heathcote

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Dr. Sasho MacKenzie, one of golf’s leading biomechanists, says grip pressure is crucial to generating clubhead speed, and if you have it wrong, you’re costing yourself yards.

“I’m a big fan of lighter grip pressure. I used to do this drill when I had piles of old clubs, and I was getting people to throw clubs. You realize that if you relax your grip pressure, you can really throw the club much farther than if you hang onto it. In fact, the clubhead speed at release generally goes up.”

A lighter grip pressure often translates to higher clubhead speed because it allows you to transfer the speed you’ve generated in your body and hands to the clubhead. If you hold the grip really tight, the speed you’ve created never reaches the clubhead. It’s the full release of the clubhead at the proper time that creates speed, MacKenzie says.

But what about the people who argue that you need to hold the club tightly, otherwise it’ll fly out of your hands? MacKenzie points to Vijay Singh and Fred Couples, who both “had higher than average clubhead speeds with their driver, and their trail hand isn’t even on the club through impact, when the forces on the grip should be the highest.”

Scott Halleran

Back to the scale. MacKenzie likes a grip pressure of five or six, where 10 is the tightest you can possibly squeeze. But again, that’s subjective, which is why MacKenzie does a test with clients to measure if they’re gripping too tightly, and you can do it at home, too.

The test

The first step is to find a place where you can throw a golf ball. This could either be a net or outside. With that, take a golf ball and throw it as far or as hard as you can. What did you do with your wrist and grip pressure to throw it hard?

MacKenzie says nearly everyone who does the test will notice how loose they get in the wrist as they throw the ball. Pay close attention to how this feels, and repeat this a few times if needed.

Next, grab a golf ball and put the same level of pressure on the ball that you do on your grip in the golf swing. Now throw the ball. If this grip pressure is any tighter or tension in your wrist any higher than when you threw the ball as hard as you could, then your golf grip is too tight.

Michael Reaves

Most people will notice that gripping the golf ball just as tight as they do a grip impedes their ability to get the speed to the ball, MacKenzie says. With stiffer wrists, you’re not able to throw the golf ball as far.

The proper grip pressure in the swing, then, is about the same pressure that you applied to the golf ball when you threw it for distance. Just enough to maintain contact with the ball, but loose enough to where your wrist can move freely to transfer all of the arm and body speed to the ball.

The golf swing is no different.

Main Image: Keyur Khamar

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Couples has long been dealing with back issues, but this was particularly alarming. The 1992 Masters champ went as far as to call it ‘embarrassing.’ When you’re aware of all Couples has gone through just to be able to tee it up and you hear him describe his play, however, his scores of 80 and 76 almost seem downright heroic.

“No. 9, I drove it down there, downhill lie, and first of all, it was a 9-iron shot, but I was trying to hit a 7-iron and I just couldn’t swing,” Couples said. “The ball went 80 yards in the air and rolled up short left of the green. It’s embarrassing. I don’t want to embarrass myself. But I chipped and putted so well today most of the time that it was kind of interesting.”

Couples said his “back is shot” and that he “just can’t hit an iron.” Which, of course, isn’t ideal when you’re playing a golf tournament anywhere, but especially at Augusta National.

That being said, Couples continued. In part, because he didn’t want to abandon playing partners Adam Hadwin and Stewart Hagestad. And, in part, because of the setting.

“It was really, I don’t want to say no fun because it’s Augusta,” Couples said, “but swinging was a chore. . . . Now I get to go home and watch some good golf in some tough conditions. Brutal out there.”

But when Couples was asked if he thought he was done playing in this event, he quickly shot that down. In fact, the 64-year-old vowed to not only return next year, but to play all four rounds.

“I’m planning on being healthy and making the cut and telling Fred (Ridley) I’m coming back the next year, too,” Couples said.

That would make him the oldest player to ever make the cut at Augusta National. Well, again. Couples already holds that record having pulled off the feat last year.

Image: Maddie Meyer

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One of the most popular players in the annals of the Masters, Couples is preparing to make his 39th start, though “preparing” is a term loosely applied to the 64-year-old Hall of Famer. When he played 18 holes on Sunday with two-time champion Jose Maria Olazabal and two friends, it marked the first time he had touched a club since March 21 when he withdrew after the pro-am at the Galleri Classic in Rancho Mirage, California. On Tuesday, he played the front nine with Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas in what has become a traditional outing for the trio.

On Wednesday, he might play in the Par-3 Contest. Or he might not. He might hit balls. Or not. He won’t jeopardise his ability to step on the first tee at 11:54 a.m. Thursday, going so far as to eschew hitting anything more than the four woods he now carries in his bag. No sense bending over, even a little, until he absolutely must.

The most important shots he’s taken the last month were “several” cortisone shots in his back, an attempt to ameliorate a new injury in a decades-long battle with back problems. He brought along Dr. Chad Beauchamp, a noted physical therapist from California, to provide extra assistance to keep loose a portion of his right back that has been nagging him for more than three years.

His lower back, which first blew up in 1994 in Miami, is relatively fine. This new injury is more perplexing, the result of a mishap in the final round of the 2020 Sanford International in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, that was equally injurious to his pride.

“The first hole is a 4-iron off the tee, and I turned to shake hands with [fellow competitor] Willie Wood because I haven’t played with him since college, and I turned and kind of got a little further [leaning forward], and [the tee] built like that [steep on the sides], and I just slipped and went right down and bounced right back up,” Couples said, chuckling slightly at the memory of the ignominious mishap. “Seventy-six shots later, on a course that everyone shoots 67 on, I was done.

“It’s just been there forever,” he added. “I don’t really understand it. I’m going to get an MRI when I get home next week. I don’t like doing those things, but just so they can see if it’s a new spot because certainly, my [lower] back feels really, really good.”

Fred Couples and Tiger Woods walk together during their Tuesday practice round ahead of the 2024 Masters. (Photo by Ben Walton/Golf Digest)

There have been plenty of older Masters champions who have perhaps hung around too long in terms of taking advantage of a lifetime exemption into the event. Couples, even at less than full strength, has been able to handle the continually lengthened Augusta National exam. He has made 31 cuts, second all-time behind Jack Nicklaus’ 37, breaking a tie with Gary Player after completing 72 holes last year. Last year, Couples struggled to a pair of closing 76s that left him T-50, but he still became the oldest player in tournament history to advance to the weekend.

He and Player also own a share of the record, at least for a few more days, for most consecutive cuts made at 23. They are tied with Woods, who has a chance to break the mark this week.

Couples competed three times on the senior tour early in the season, but then shut it down completely to ensure he could give it a go this week in the 88th Masters. His reasoning was simple and direct. “Because I wanted to play,” he said.

Fred Couples is trying to make his 39th Masters start, having made the cut in 31 previous appearances. (Ben Walton/Golf Digest)

He fully accepts the physical limitations ahead of him. He has to play around the injury and hope he doesn’t aggravate it. And to make another cut, he has to putt well. “I better putt well,” he said.

“You know what, if I drive it somewhere and I’ve got downhill lies … the hardest shots I have are like with wedges and sand wedges, so I open way up and I hit a wedge 90 yards now. So the [pain] threshold is when it pops,” Couples said. “Then I don’t know what’s going to happen. But if I can play around it and get it around, I’ll be fine. I could go to the range now and look pretty good hitting drivers and 3-woods because I’m so far away, and I won’t even warm up with an iron. It’s really not painful until I make a bad swing, and then it’s toast.

“The last thing I want to do is come out and embarrass myself by a bad score,” he added. “I know I can hit the ball. What is that? I don’t know if that’s a 73 or a 75, but I’m not shooting 80. There’s no way. I’m just not that kind of person. I wouldn’t do that. Can I shoot 80? Of course I can. But I’m not planning on it.”

Image: Ben Walton/Golf Digest

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In LIV, “Boom Boom” found a big target he couldn’t ignore, and he’s pulled no punches with some of the most notable players in the game. In one rant at a California PGA Tour Champions event in March, he called Sergio Garcia a “clown” and former Ryder Cup teammate Phil Mickelson a “nutbag,” though he admitted the latter is among the 10 best players of all time.

Said Couples at the time, ““If you’re giving Phil Mickelson $200 million at age 52 to shoot 74 and 75, God bless you.”

As it was then and now, Couples’ biggest peeve is players going to LIV and talking less about the money they’re getting than the draw of what’s different about the Saudi Arabia-backed circuit that features 48 players, 54 holes, no cuts, team play and enormous purses.

Appearing on Monday night on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, the 64-year-old, 11-time tour winner was again on a roll in the aftermath of the move of World No. 3 Jon Rahm to LIV. Last week, after he signed his deal reportedly worth at least $500 million, Rahm said, “Obviously the past two years there’s been a lot of evolving on the game of golf, things have changed a lot and so have I. Seeing the growth of LIV Golf, seeing the evolution of LIV Golf and innovation is something that has really captured my attention.”

That kind of talk makes Couples go off.

“Don’t sit there and then go on and say, ‘they’re changing the game,’” he said. “What are they changing? Actually, for 50 years, golf has been changed. Arnold Palmer changed it. Jack Nicklaus changed it. Tiger Woods changed it.

“The LIV Tour ain’t changing a thing.”

Couples acknowledged that players can choose to compete wherever they want, but doesn’t want to hear that money makes LIV great.

“One hundred million doesn’t get it; $200 million doesn’t get it; $300 million doesn’t get it, but for $400 million, it’s a great product, and it’s a great show?” Couples said. “OK. Tell me the next guy … ‘I’m going for free, boys. I love this [LIV] tour. I don’t like the PGA Tour anymore.’ No one’s going to do that.

“I wanna see the next superstar say, ‘I’m going to LIV, you know why I’m going? Because it is unreal.’” [The PGA Tour plays] Riviera, and they play TPC Phoenix in front of 300,000 people. I want ’em to go for free. Then go on CNN, and every TV show, and say why they’re going is because it’s that good.”

Main Image: Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire

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In trying to make sense of his Ryder Cup snub, Keegan Bradley described himself as an “outsider”. One of US captain Zach Johnson’s assistants, Fred Couples, implied Bradley might be on to something on his radio show.

First, though, Couples denied that there was any such thing as an “outside”, before later admitting that Bradley not being as close with some of the younger players on the team may have (slightly) factored into his non-selection.

“There’s no ‘outside’,” Couples said. “I saw Keegan Bradley’s statement. I left him off the team (as 2011 Presidents Cup captain) when he won a PGA. It’s the harshest thing you can do to a guy.

“I feel like it’s the players’ team, but you can’t have guys telling the captain: ‘Here’s who I want, should be on it,’ unless you’re a Jordan Spieth or a Scottie Scheffler, or a [Patrick] Cantlay.”

Bradley, 37, is only three years older than Rickie Fowler, one of Johnson’s six captain’s picks. But Fowler, Spieth and, perhaps the most controversial captain’s selection, Justin Thomas, are all very close friends. And then there is Sam Burns, who grabbed the final spot on the team and is expected to be paired with his close friend, Scottie Scheffler.

Couples suggested that all the captain’s picks were made with pairings in mind.

“Now they’re picking other guys that may not have the record of Keegan, but they pair them up perfectly,” he said.

“I like Keegan. He’s an older guy, and he’s not in tight with them. If that had 20 per cent to do with it, I won’t argue that.”

Automatically qualifying would have been the way to avoid all these what-ifs for Bradley, but that doesn’t make them any less painful to think about. While he’s certainly not old, he’s not getting any younger, and his fine play over the last two seasons, which included impressive wins at the 2022 Zozo Championship and the 2023 Travelers Championship, did seem like enough to earn Bradley a third-career Ryder Cup appearance.

Unfortunately for Bradley, simply playing better isn’t the only thing factored into captain’s selections any more. With that in mind, don’t be surprised to see Bradley getting extra cozy with some of the younger players over the next few years with an eye on the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

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Fred Couples seemingly doesn’t care for the hoopla — or the secrecy surrounding it for that matter. Not when you consider he appeared to have just announced the US team’s plans regarding some of the on-the-bubble boys on his aptly named “The Fred Couples Show” earlier this week.

#RYDERCUP — Assistant Captain Fred Couples casually confirmed on @SiriusXMPGATOUR the 3 players he believes are locks to make the team: “I’ll say Max Homa’s gonna be in Italy, without getting anyone in trouble…. Cam Young will be in Italy….“Jordan Spieth?” …Will be… pic.twitter.com/AWXnt3RIEi

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 27, 2023

It’s not as if Couples is only loosely connected to the team and thus his guessing is more hearsay than reality. The man is a Team USA assistant captain. Seems like the definition of an insider, no? So hearing the following comments naturally gets your attention.

“Max Homa’s going to be in Italy, without getting anyone in trouble,” Couples noted during the programme. “Cam Young will be in Italy. Jordan Spieth will be in Italy.”

So matter-of-factly. Does showmanship mean nothing anymore?

When pushed by co-host George Downing if Keegan Bradley will make the Ryder Cup cut, that’s where Couples had to slow down. “I’m stopping,” he said at this point.

As of today, the top six Americans on the points list who would automatically qualify for Rome are Scottie Scheffler (who the PGA of America announced Wednesday is a mathematical lock to make the top six), Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Brooks Koepka, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay. Homa, Young and Spieth are seven through nine in the standings, so these aren’t the most daring of choices, but it’s still shocking to announce locks this early. Harman recently jumped up 17 spots with his Open victory.

If this line-up stands, that would leave three spots open for the likes of Thomas, Bradley, Tony Finau, Collin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler and Sam Burns. JT struggled with his game of late, missing the cut at three of four majors and posting scores in the 80s at both Los Angeles Country Club and Royal Liverpool. He’s looking for some late-season magic at this week’s 3M Open to return to form.

“I’m glad he’s playing this week,” Couples said. “The whole world knows that JT’s gotta go to, is it Minnesota, and then Greensboro? He’s gotta go to those places and play well.”

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It was first reported on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Championship that Tiger Woods’ long-time caddie, Joe LaCava, had made a permanent move to Patrick Cantlay’s bag. He replaced Matt Minister, known by the nickname “Rev”, who has worked with Cantlay since 2017. But if fans were hoping Cantlay’s Wednesday press conference in Charlotte would shed more light on the situation, they were disappointed.

Cantlay, striking a matter-of-fact tone, confirmed the basic facts of the switch — that he let Minister go after the Zurich Classic and is bringing LaCava in as a full-time replacement — but wouldn’t elaborate on the cause of his split with Minister or any dialogue with Tiger Woods.

In fact, Cantlay revealed only two new nuggets — that Fred Couples was the facilitator, to a degree, and that he didn’t communicate with Woods in any way during the process.

“I’ve been friends with Fred Couples a long time,” Cantlay said. “He’s been in Newport Beach for a number of years now, and we’ve played a lot of golf together. So I’ve heard a number of great things about Joe … when I reached out to Joe, he said it was possible and [it] ended up working out. I’m really happy about it. … I haven’t spoken to Tiger.”

LaCava, however, did speak with Woods, getting his approval. Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg told ESPN that “you shouldn’t read anything more in to that other than Joe wants to caddie. He loves it. It’s his passion”.

Cantlay called LaCava a “steady hand on the steering wheel”, and added: “I know he’s been in every moment a caddie could be in and he’s just a good guy.”

As for Minister, Cantlay’s words sounded slightly prepared, in the manner of a press release.

“We accomplished a lot together, and I’m really proud of all we accomplished,” he said. “He’s a great friend of mine, and we had a lot of good finishes together and a lot of wins. So I’m incredibly grateful to him. Just needed a change.”

Minister was on Cantlay’s bag for eight PGA Tour wins, including three playoff events, the latest of which came at the BMW Championship last August. Cantlay’s play in majors has been less impressive, with just three top-10s in 24 tries, which the 31-year-old tour pro chalked up on Wednesday to an anomaly. If that had anything to do with turning to LaCava, he gave no indication of that, and it’s doubtful he will at any point in the future.

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Fred Couples knew the questions about LIV golfers were coming. He has been rather outspoken about the circuit, calling out recruits, several of whom are former Masters winners, including Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia. The two are part of an 18-strong LIV contingent at Augusta National this week.

Last month, at a breakfast before the PGA Tour Champions’ Hoag Classic, Couples called Mickelson a “nutbag” and said, “If you’re willing to give Phil Mickelson $200 million [signing bonus] at age 53 to shoot 74 and 75, God bless you.” He also called Garcia “a clown”.

Couples will see Mickelson and Garcia on Tuesday night at the Champions Dinner. On Monday, after a nine-hole practice round at Augusta with Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Tom Kim, the 1992 Masters champion was asked by a reporter what he’s expecting during the evening?

“For food?” Couples joked.

The 63-year-old then addressed the remarks he has made about LIV golfers. “I’ve made comments, but they need to understand if they’ve looked at anything I’ve ever said, I call myself the same stuff I’m calling them,” Couples said. “I have no problem with any of them, just please do not bash a tour that I have 43 years invested in. It bothers the hell out of me.”

Couples said he would be happy to talk to any LIV golfer who took umbrage with his comments.

“No, if one wants to stop and ask why I’m picking on them, then I’m all for it,” he said. “But I don’t really think I’ve done anything horrific. They’re making comments, and I’m replying to them. That’s it.”

Another player Couples has spoken out against is Cameron Smith, calling out one of the reasons Smith has mentioned for leaving the PGA Tour — which was to attend more weddings of family and friends in his native Australia. “I find that comical, because my favourite to ever play has five kids, 40 grandkids and he has never missed anything — and that was Jack Nicklaus,” Couples said before the Hoag Classic.

Smith was confused by the swipes, which included a Twitter jab last September, when asked by News Corp Australia at LIV’s Orlando event last week. “Considering I’ve never met him, he’s been very strong on me,” Smith said.

“I respect them all,” Couples said on Monday. “Brooks Koepka, I love, Dustin Johnson, absolutely love. On my [radio] show I’ve told everyone, Sergio is one of the top 10 players I’ve ever seen hit a ball, but if he’s going to make comments about the tour that I play, I’m going to make a comment back, and if it’s offensive I apologise, but they’re on another tour. Go play and have a good time.”

As to any tension that might play out at the Champions Dinner, Couples didn’t think there was anything to worry about, even as four other LIV players join Mickelson and Garcia (Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel and Johnson).

“It will be a great dinner, [it] will be a lot of fun,” Couples said. “I’m not expecting anything different. I sit in a great spot … down by all the beautiful people that I’ve sat with … Nicklaus, Tiger Floyd, [and] Sandy Lyle.”

Couples went as far as saying he would welcome a Thursday grouping with three-time Masters winner Mickelson. “People have asked me are you going to get paired … I’m like, I would love to be paired with Phil,” he said. “I mean, he’s one of the best players that ever played. He loves this place as much as I do, and if we did, we’d look at each other on the first hole and we’d have a good time.”

And as for LIV golfers competing in the first place? Again, Couples noted he had no problem with the decision Augusta National or any of the other majors made in allowing those who had qualified for the events to continue to be able to play in them.

“Was I in agreement with that? Yeah, I think they deserve to be here, the ones that have won {Masters] and others. Bryson has won a major. Yeah, they should be here.”

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I was diving into the Golf Digest archive ahead of the Masters this year, and in the April 1993 edition of the magazine, came across this fantastic golf swing sequence of a young Couples, preparing to make his return the The Masters following his victory the previous year.

He rose to World No. 1 with that win, and the smooth, rhythmical swing that he became known for became a household fixture among avid golfers of the world.

Which is why, ahead of his Masters defence, legendary teacher Harvey Penick gave a frame-by-frame breakdown of Couples’ swing.

1. Vs pointing to right shoulder

Fred Couples. Golf Digest

The first thing Harvey Penick noticed was Couples’ strong grip, “with both Vs pointed at his right shoulder,” he writes.
While a stronger grip could help prevent slices from ballooning out to the right, in Couples’ case, he matches a strong grip with lots of body rotation.
“Anyone with a strong grip has to make a fast turn and get their left hip out of the way,” he explains, adding that Couples flaring his left foot out towards the target helps him increase his rotation. “He couldn’t make that fast a hip turn without his left toe being turned out.”

2. Big, free turn

Fred Couples. Golf Digest

The big rotation wasn’t confined to Couples’ downswing, though. It started on the downswing, with a shoulder turn of more than “100 degrees of rotation,” Penick writes. A big backswing turn that remains balanced is something the rest of us can and should learn a lot from young Couples.
“My teaching is that the left heel should rise in the backswing if it wants to, but Fred’s doesn’t want to. Fred is so flexible that he stays in balance and shifts his weight without his left heel needing to rise,” Penick writes. “It would help the average golfer to take a free swing as Fred does. That doesn’t mean a loosey-goosey swing, but one that is free.”

3. Right over left

Fred Couples. Golf Digest

The “magic move” in Couples’ swing is in his release, Penick writes.
“His right arm rolls over his left which has maintained and guided the swing arc and does not break down,” he says. “His right arm is pouring in the power. This crossover of the right arm delivers enormous clubhead speed and prodigious distance.”
It’s rolling his right arm over his left, while extending both of his arms, which creates a “powerful whipping motion” that transfers maximum energy from the golf ball, into the clubhead. He may not have realised it at the time, but there’s been some good science in recent years underlining the importance of a full release of the arms and wrists.
It’s the combination of lots of body lotion, with a full release of his club, that helped Couples be so efficient with his power. He made it look effortless because he was so good at transferring the speed he created with his body into the clubhead. It made for some nice viewing for the rest of us.

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