Chris

Couch

The 48-year-old Couch has one Tour win on his resume, the 2006 Zurich Classic, where he opened with back-to-back rounds of 70 to make the cut on the number. He grabbed the 54-hole lead with an 8-under 64 in blustery conditions and posted a final-round 65 that included a 12-foot bogey putt on No. 17. But he earned the win thanks to a 54-foot, chip-in par on 18 after a difficult bunker shot from behind the green left him lying three in the greenside rough. Couch finished at 19-under 269 to beat Charles Howell III and Fred Funk by a stroke. From 2013-17, he didn’t make a PGA Tour start due to a back injury and made five starts in 2018 on a Major Medical Extension (T-68 at 2018 Valspar, two WDs, two missed cuts) before losing his card. He’s made six starts over the next three season, making three cuts in 2019. The Puerto Rico Open has been his only Tour start the last two seasons. Couch was T-35 in 2020 and missed the cut last year.

The 48-year-old has played just one event this season, missing the cut at the Puerto Rico Open. His only status is Beyond 150th on Prior Season’s FEC Points List and Past Champions status, so starts are tough to come by. He hasn’t posted a top 25 since 2012 so gamers can continue to keep him off their radar for fantasy purposes.

The 46-year-old doesn’t make it into many fields out of the Beyond 150 status category but he’s taking full advantage of the opportunity so far. The University of Florida product piped 11-of-14 fairways today and landed 12 greens from there. His putter was tidy as he needed just 24 swipes to make his way around Grand Reserve Country Club. Couch hasn’t secured a top-35 finish since 2012 (T13 at the 2012 True South Classic) but it’s also just his 10th start since the end of that 2012 season, due to injury. Longtime fans should keep tabs on him this week but keep their expectations reasonable because this round really came out of the blue.

He was a 36-hole co-leader at Copperhead last year before fading to finish with a share of fifth place. He hit only 11 greens today, but recorded yet another tidy round with his putter, taking it back just 24 times on them. Among his six birdies was a chip-in from 10 yards at the third hole.

Couch called it quits after one round in Houston with an unspecified injury. He shared a career-best 14th place in his fourth start at last year’s stop at Hilton Head.

Last time we saw the veteran he withderew after one round in Houston two weeks ago due to an unspecified injury. He seemed just fine today, at least early, going out in bogey-free 3-under with an outward nine that included a par save of 20'5" at the eighth hole and a birdie measuring 12'5" at the ninth; however, that last conversion would be his last birdie of the round. He logged bogeys at 12, 14 and 15, and then needed another par save of 11'6" at the 17th to avoid dipping into black numbers. Best of all, he was only two shots off the clubhouse lead on what is a difficult day for scoring.

The Florida Gator has struggled in 2012, making only two cuts in eight tries with a season-best T19 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. He ranks 11th in total driving and 41st in ball-striking. The problem comes when he’s on the dance floor, as he’s 131st in Strokes Gained-Putting.

He posted a 4-over-par 38-38=76 in his opener before the decision. It’s his thirteenth WD in 172 career starts on the PGA TOUR. He did not qualify for next week’s Masters.

Couch has only made one cut in five attempts this season. His 161st ranking in total putting is likely the major culprit and it’s not a surprise given his history with the putter. Fortunately for him, putting prowess isn’t necessarily a requirement for success on the Copperhead course.

He hit two more greens in regulation (13) versus his opener but required five more putts (29). Couch buried three of his five birdies today on par 3s, including converions of 14'6" and 13'10" on the 15th and fourth holes, respectively. He rolled in his last birdie from 16'6" at the par-4 sixth and ended his round with a par save measuring 11'11" at the ninth.