Quick 18: Captain Couples and cool teams to hang with

text size

Stan Badz/PGA TOUR

Fred Couples needs no nickname. He's just Fred. And he might be done captaining at The Presidents Cup.

1. Hadn't seen that Tiger Woods in a while had we? And all it took was a putting lesson from Steve Stricker on the putting green? Oh my. He's been saying he's close and in Sunday's singles ... when he plays like that it's never close. Didn't see it coming after the first two sessions when tongues were wagging? Everything was clicking -- tee-to-green, stinger, putting -- so, yes, Q-18 thinks you might add him back onto your Masters short list. Just fits with the unpredictable year, right? When you least expect it ...

Got a comment or question for Melanie? Click here to e-mail her.

2. His hands-on-yet-hands-off style. His Yogi Berra moments when he forgets Phil Mickelson's age ("He's no longer 38, 40, 42, years old ... " Um, he's 41). His why-not confidence in his older players to let them join the assistants and help decide the lineups. His hang-with-the-caddies time. His assistants. And dancing with the Aussie fans? Fred Couples may be -- due respect to Jack Nicklaus -- the ultimate Presidents Cup captain. He keeps his team loose, gets out of the way and they have fun and play hard. And, oh, they're lights out in foursomes. Hmm. The other Cup might take notes. At the very least, Davis Love III might want to consider his old buddy as an assistant.

3. It might not be 2-0 and done. Fred doubled back a bit on last week's stance that he's not coming back for a third captaincy. Sunday afternoon he said he'd do it if they asked him. The way his team played for him? From Q-18's vantage point -- due respect to potential captain Tom Watson -- seems like a no-brainer.

4. Can't be easy to be an International captain. Trying to pull four countries and some language barriers together in a couple of days? Not even Greg Norman who is a Type A-ish answer to Fred could pull it off. Even with half his team from Australia. His guys staged a rally in singles -- Geoff Ogilvy and Charl Schwartzel were the team stars -- but he's still 0-2 as a captain. He plans to give the powers that be a bit of input on the International selection process, but don't expect to see him back as captain. But ... he wouldn't mind being someone's assistant if they asked.

5. Love a good caricature? Check out this one from Norman mate, former International PC player and former (like Fred) Houston Cougar Steve Elkington. Love the 'Roo slippers on Fred's feet. @elkpga Hate to say it but USA wins Prez Cup in sleep walk.

6. It was so Fred. After months of taking grief about his early selection of Tiger, the captain just shook his head and grinned. "When I'm 100 years old and I tell somebody I captained two of these and Tiger wins both Cups for me, they'll go "Wow."

7. Next up for Tiger? His own Chevron World Challenge next week, a mini-event with just 18 players. But that doesn't mean it isn't a show. Last year Graeme McDowell holed a 20-footer to force a playoff, then beat the host with a birdie on the same hole in the playoff. Two of the greatest putts, G-Mac said, he's ever made.

8. How hard was Royal Melbourne? Just look at the third hole. Count how many times someone used the words brutal or amazing. Aussie Adam Scott loves the place -- "You'd play golf every day of your life if you could play here." But when the wind blows like it did on Day One? Best description of the Alister Mackenzie design came courtesy of analyst David Feherty: "It's like of like a rock-hard links course, but with greens that run about 35 on the stimpmeter."

9 There were times this year when Jim Furyk couldn't have seen himself on the team, let alone going 5-0-0. Heck, he made the team by the slimmest of margins. So what changed? The key just might have been that pairing with Mickelson, who asked to play with him. Overlooked in the U.S. win? David Toms. The oldest player was also one of the steadiest. All three are in line to eventually captain one of the Cup teams.

10. Fun to see Fred, Tiger and the rest of the U.S. players celebrating with Australia's "Fanatics." Fred dancing a little -- with a backwards cap. Tiger smiling. Hunter Mahan surrounded. Furk pulling on a yellow-and-green Fanatic jersey. At the end of the day, it's a game, right? Still, can't see that kind of celebration at Texas-OU, Alabama-LSU or Florida-Florida State to name a few.

11. Today's lesson in perspective comes from Q-school. Major winners David Duval, Rich Beem, Lee Janzen and Shaun Micheel all made it through to next week's finals as did Jason Gore, Tommy Armour III, Boo Weekley and Jeff Maggert. But so many more didn't. What struck Q-18 was Duval's take on the week. "It's a different week. It's a trying week," Duval said. "It's people's livelihoods, the dreams they're trying to pursue. I know I'm going to be able to play, regardless (of the results), and it's still stressful for me. People who haven't been out (on TOUR) and don't have that kind of history or record behind them, (the pressure) is exponential." And just so you know ... Oklahoma State senior Peter Uihlein, who test drove the second stage in McKinney, Texas, to be prepared for his post OSU career, came up 10 shots short of advancing.

12. Good question posed by AP golf writer Doug Ferguson, who wondered where would the Cup go if the Internationals did win? Maybe a little shared responsibility?

13. It was miserable weather at Pebble Beach over the weekend, but that didn't stop Harrison Frazar from winning the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational by a shot over Matt Bettencourt. "There's no better place to be miserable," Frazar said. "When the weather is like this, it's a lot easier to do it here than someplace else." But when half of the sixth green was under water, players were wondering if they'd call it. They didn't. "Fortunately,'' Frazar said, "none of our putts were in the little rivers."

14. How can you overlook a career that includes 18 wins, including three U.S. Opens? The Hall of Fame rectified that oversight and tapped Hollis Stacy for the 2012 class through the veterans category. Next up? Laura Davies has been two points away from qualifying through LPGA rules for years now, but she keeps winning worldwide.

15. Team you'd most like to hang out with at this week's Omega Mission Hills World Cup? Hands-down decision for Q-18 is Ireland's G-Mac and Rory McIlroy. Runners-up? Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez and Alvaro Quiros or England's Ian Poulter and Justin Rose.

16. Tweet of the week comes from @Fehertwit (David Feherty) to @geoffogilvy hey Geoffrey, Fehertwit here. I like the stash, just work on the soul patch and you're two thirds of the way to a Van Dyke!

17. Interesting move by LPGA commish Mike Whan to spend two hours co-hosting Monday's Morning Drive with Gary Williams. Had him as a trending topic among his players on Twitter. @ jeehaeda (Jeehae Lee) @GCMorningDrive why is our commish so cool/smooth? he should be in a Ciroc ad with Diddy. ... and @Kstupples: @GCMorningDrive how are you managing to get Whan to sit still for 2 hours???? That man never stops!

18. And finally ... heard Couples described as the Silver Fox a number of times during the week. Don't think the nickname will stick. Fred is just Fred.

Melanie Hauser is a columnist for PGATOUR.COM and can be reached at melaniehauser@gmail.com. Her views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR. Follow her on Twitter @melaniehauser.