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THE PLAYERS Championship: A look back at Fred Couples’ crazy par at the 17th in 1999

By Luke Norris

Apr 7, 2017; Augusta, GA, USA; Fred Couples hits a tee shot on the 12th hole during the second round of The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2017; Augusta, GA, USA; Fred Couples hits a tee shot on the 12th hole during the second round of The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports /
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A look back at the improbable par for Fred Couples at the famed 17th hole of the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass at THE PLAYERS Championship in 1999.

Fred Couples has a rich history at THE PLAYERS Championship. The now-57-year-old “Boom Boom”, a nickname given to him back in the day for his ability to crush the golf ball, has won golf’s unofficial fifth major on two occasions. He’s one of just six men in the world that can say that. Jack Nicklaus is the only three-time winner.

Couples’ first win at the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass came as a 24-year-old back in 1984, just two years after the tourney was moved to Ponte Vedra Beach when it was still called the Tournament Players Championship, and it came in historic fashion as he outdueled the great Lee Trevino to become the youngest champion in tournament history (that record now belongs to Adam Scott), solidifying himself as one of the future stars of the PGA Tour. Couples made 24 birdies that week, which still ranks second in history behind only Fuzzy Zoeller’s 26 in 1992.

After breaking through and winning his first (and surprisingly only) major championship in 1992 at The Masters, Couples made more history at THE PLAYERS by firing the first 63 in tournament history on the Stadium Course (five others have since matched it) and just four years later shot a final-round 64 en route to his second title, winning by four strokes over Colin Montgomerie and Tommy Tolles.

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Couples is also just one of seven men to record a hole-in-one at the famed 17th hole after an acein the final round of THE PLAYERS in 1997. He’s joined on that list by Brad Fabel (1986), Brian Claar (1991), Joey Sindelar (1999), Paul Azinger (2000), Miguel Angel Jimenez (2002) and most recently Will Wilcox, who accomplished the feat just last year.

However, even with all of those amazing accomplishments, Fred Couples’ legacy in the minds of many at THE PLAYERS may be a simple par. Okay, maybe it wasn’t quite a simple par. For those of you who may be too young to remember or just may have forgotten, allow me to give you a reminder of what happened.

In 1999, Couples was struggling in his opening round. He walked to the 17th tee, one of the most intimidating shots in all of golf, already 5-over on his round and took that ever-smooth swing and came up just short, which obviously doesn’t work there. And while many would take that short walk over to the drop zone, that wasn’t an option for Couples as he teed it up again and made the most improbable par in history. Take a look.

To be fair, that shot didn’t hit the green either.

Next: Can Dustin Johnson really win THE PLAYERS?

Be sure to check back in with us all week for all the latest updates from THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass. And don’t forget to head on over and like the Pro Golf Now Facebook page and follow us on Twitter at @ProGolfNow.

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