Couples' play does all the talking at favorite Riviera
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. -- Fred Couples texts. He doesn't tweet. Or, is it twitter? He doesn't know the proper terminology, and he really doesn't care, either.
"To be honest with you, I don't want to sound stupid, I went to see 'Social Network' because Justin Timberlake was in it," Couples said. "I don't even know what I watched. I don't even know what Facebook is. And then twittering, I don't know what that is.
"I mean, I do but I don't. For instance, if I did Twitter, would I tell people? That I'm heading home and then going to eat at California Pizza Kitchen? Is that what you do, or do you actually tweet information?"
Told that was the general idea, Couples thought for a minute. Then the ageless 51-year-old who is setting the pace at the midway point of the Northern Trust Open figured out what he would cram into his first 140-character message. If he tweeted, that is.
"I would tweet everyone that I am right now one ahead of J.B. Holmes, and let them all know," Couples said with an impsih grin.
By late Friday afternoon, Couples' lead was two over the big-hitting Holmes and the steady John Senden. His bogey-free 66 tied for the low round of a dreary, damp day and put Couples in control at 8 under on a course that is hands-down his all-time favorite.
The texts had already started lighting up his cell phone by the time Couples came into the interview room after his round. One was from his buddy Tiger Woods. Couples said can't understand why the former world No. 1 doesn't play at Riviera anymore. His last appearance was in 2006 and Woods has never won the Northern Trust Open.
"I'm shocked that he doesn't play here, but I guess he doesn't play well here, which I don't know why," Couples said. "If I can play well here, any human being in the world can play well here."
That's not quite accurate. Between practice rounds, pro-ams and actual tournaments, Couples estimates he's played more than 150 rounds at Riviera. Of those, 107 have been in competition, and he's broken par 63 times. He knows the course so well, he could probably play it "blindfolded" -- bad back and all.
In 28 previous starts, Couples has two wins, three seconds and one third, as well as 19 finishes of 25th or better. He has only missed two cuts, and Couples was 49 in 2009 when he gave Phil Mickelson a run for his money before tying for third.
"Freddie is just a legend," said Paul Casey, who is four strokes off the pace. "With Freddie up there, Corey Pavin was up at the top of the leaderboard yesterday, it shows that this golf course is maybe not all about young, brute power. Freddie is struggling to hit the ball the way he wants, and yet he knows every nook and cranny of this golf course. Eight under is an absolutely phenomenal score because it wasn't easy the last couple days."
Pavin, who owned the first-round lead outright at 5 under before making bogey on three of his last four holes, has a similar affinity for the course after 28 starts of his own. He's got two wins, as well, but is still trailing his long-time friend and fellow competitor in nearly every other category.
"Obviously being one month older than myself really helps him out a lot," Pavin said with a smile. "He loves it here, and he's got a great track record here. It doesn't surprise me. This is really a great venue for us in a sense because you really don't have to go too low to compete, especially when the conditions are like this.
"You just manage your game and play solidly, you can be in contention out here because the course is playing so difficult."
Couples has to manage that chronically aching back, too. He plans to have an MRI on Monday and expects treatment that is both "drastic" and "fun," according to his comments on Thursday. Of course, he joked that he didn't remember what he had been talking about when asked about the procedure after the second round.
The fact remains, Couples doesn't get to practice much anymore. His back simply won't let him. So Couples hits a few 5-woods, rescue clubs and drivers before he tees off -- "I don't consider this warming up. I just think it's waiting for my tee time to come," he said. Couples doesn't mess with the wedges or 9-irons or anything that makes him bend over too much, though.
"So it is what it is," Couples said. "I've had it a long time. When it does hinder me a little bit, I know how to get it around and when to not try and hit a shot that I may think I could when I'm healthy. ...
"There's a lot that goes through the pea brain that I have here."
The back.
His age.
None of that seems to matter this week. Couples, who is staying in a house on the fourth hole, has hit 17 of 28 fairways and all but 10 greens in regulation. His putting has been solid with 28 in the first round and 26 on Friday. One of those was an improbable 94-foot eagle putt on his first hole in the second round.
Couples says he has liked Riviera from the "get-go." The small greens remind him of courses in Seattle, where Couples grew up, and he's always been a solid iron player so he can give himself plenty of birdie opportunities. He doesn't take a lot of chances, and he relies heavily on the knowledge he's gained over the years.
"So that's an advantage for me," Couples said.
Speaking of knowledge, though, isn't there something golf's long-time king of cool would like to impart to his fans on Twitter? That is, again, if he knew how to tweet.
"What information do I have for my 500,000 followers?" Couples said, shaking his head. "What do I have for them? I'm 51, I live in the desert. They all know that already. If you guys write well enough, they'll know that I'm in good shape going into tomorrow. I don't need to Tweet anybody."
Consider it done.
Shop your favorite brand name golf equipment and accessories at SHOP.PGATOUR.COM
FANTASY
PGATOUR.com is part of Turner Sports Digital, part of the Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network 