Fred Couples hits 500-cut milestone at Safeway Open

Fred Couples is already one of the all-time greats in the game of golf, but he’s not done yet. Last week at the Safeway Open, he reached another historic PGA TOUR milestone by making his 500th career cut.

When Fred Couples debuted on the PGA Tour in the winter of 1981 at the Wickes Andy Williams San Diego Open (now known simply as the Farmers Insurance Open), it was an inauspicious beginning to what would become a remarkable golf career. He missed the cut and didn’t play another PGA Tour event for a month. As a rookie, he had to wait in line to see if he could get into tournaments, just as newcomers have to do today.

Last week, he played in his 615th PGA Tour event, his 2160th round and made his 500th cut, according to the PGA Tour.  At age 59, with a back so bad that he’s sometimes sidelined for months, it’s incredible that he still plays at all. The 500 mark includes making British Open cuts. For many years those did not count as PGA Tour events.

However, he wasn’t looking to set a new career mark by entering.

“I just found that out yesterday,” he said about the milestone. “If they’re cheating me from British Open cuts, those are better than a lot of other cuts I made on the PGA Tour. So, whatever it is, let’s just say it’s 500, and we’re counting the British Open. I was kind of stunned.”

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Couples asked for a sponsor’s exemption to the tournament because he wanted to help out the community after hearing what tournament director Jeff Sanders said as a guest on Couples’ program on PGA Tour Radio. The tournament is trying to help the area come back after serious fires last year.

“He was talking about all the money they’re going to try and raise for the firemen and all the local charities this year because of that,”  Couples explained about Sanders.

Couples wanted to do his part, and he’s usually good for a few ticket sales. He just exceeded his expectations on the golf course.

After opening with a 73, he tossed up a second-round 65, which probably surprised him as much as anyone. He needed only 22 putts for 18 holes in round two, down from 32 the previous day. Starting the round, he thought there was no way he would be able to post 4 or 5-under, which he thought he would need to make the cut. Not only did he make it, he was just four shots off the lead after round two.

"“I actually hit the ball very well yesterday,” he said after finishing the second round. “I had just come off Pebble (Pebble Beach, site of the tournament the previous week) where we’re putting greens like this, and I just didn’t make any, and today I made them all. I hit it close a few times and made them and made a couple of long ones. I got it around pretty nicely. I do like the course, but if you putt like that you’re going to shoot a low score.”"

Couples would probably be surprised to know that his good friend Jay Haas actually holds the current record for most cuts made on the PGA Tour at  592, as of May 2018. He has also entered the most events at 798.

Those behind Haas in events played are Miller Barber, at 694; Tom Kite, with 586; Ray Floyd, with 582; Gene Littler, with 564 and Doug Ford, with 553.

Just as Couples did not know he had reached the 500-cut mark, he also did not know he had reached 615 in number of tournaments entered. But, if his back holds up for another 12 months, who knows, he might be back at Silverado next year to chalk up another one.

"“I think this is a good course for everybody whether you’re 29, 39, 109, and I really like it, so that helps,” Couples added. “It was fun. I enjoyed it. I’m certainly thrilled that I got a sponsor’s exemption here.”"

The reasons he does not play more PGA Tour events are because of his back, and because the length of today’s PGA Tour courses, he says, are too much for him.

“Am I going to play Bay Hill or somewhere that’s 7,800 yards long? I don’t think so. I used to love Riviera,” he noted. “They’ve lengthened those holes. They’re no fun anymore, either. So, this is right up my alley because it’s really a shotmaker’s course.”  Silverado Resort ‘s north course is 7,166 yards.

While Couples often makes the cut at the Genesis Open and The Masters, those are usually the only regular PGA Tour events he plays. The Safeway Open was a new addition. It may be Couples’ new favorite event not named The Masters.