From the Sunday Mail:
FRED COUPLES says Scotland may have seen the last of him as a dodgy back has forced him to retire from competing outside the United States.
The former Masters champion, 48, has been a popular figure at the Barclays Scottish Open.
On his last trip two years ago he even stayed around all week to soak up the atmosphere – despite having pulled out before the tournament when his back flared up.
But Couples now won’t travel across the Atlantic for any more tournaments with the only possible exception being The Open.
He said: “My travelling days are pretty much done. I would love to come back to places like Loch Lomond but it’s just too much now.
“If I qualify for The Open I might go across but that would be the limit.
“It’s a shame because the last time I was at Loch Lomond I had a ball. I never played because of my back but itwas the best weather ever. I loved it.
“I haven’t been on a transatlantic flight since then. In the past I enjoyed going to events in Germany and Asia.
But it’s just too much strain on my back now.”
The important caveat there is the qualifying for the Open, which is good news.
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I don't think the R&A would give a toss. Qualifiers normally go out from about 3.15 pm one day amd after 11am the next. You can guarantee one thing Tiger on one of these days will tee off just after 9am for the start of the BBC coverage.
Let's see if Fred gets there first!
Oh… I didn't realise they could qualify in the states now. That puts a slightly different slant on it. If he did qualify do you think they would give him a 4:00pm start time ? !
Don't understant why he doesn't just fly in Tigers Jet and lie down on a bed somewhere the whole way!…..how hard can it be??
Not so much hassle or stress with qualifying now based in the States. Just not “Freddie like”. And if he does go through qualifying he wont appreciate the 4pm tee time qualifiers normally get at the Open.
If he qualifies for the Open and decides to come over then he may as well play the Scottish Open the week before. It's only 3 hours down the road to Birkdale or 30 mins in a plane.
I honesty can't see him going and trying to qualify in Michigan.
I don't think this sounds like good news, I can't see Freddie trying to qualify for the Open…it's just too much hassle and stress. As much as it pains me to say it, I think we've seen the last of Freddie in this this Great Sceptered Isle.
No doubt. Sounds like he's still going to try and qualify. Hopefully he can put the Masters behind him quickly.