Fred {Couples}’ ‘silent murderer’ taking part in companion at PNC? His stepson

Fred {Couples} has performed in 622 PGA Tour occasions and made one other 154 begins on the PGA Tour Champions, however this weekend will mark a primary for him: his debut within the Cadillac of silly-season tournaments: the PNC Championship, a feel-good, but nonetheless uber-competitive, affair through which 20 of the sport’s most completed gamers — together with 11 former world No. 1’s — will companion up for 2 days with their sons, daughters and grandchildren.

Or in {Couples}’ case, his stepson.  

Within the 36-hole best-ball occasion at Ritz-Carlton Golf Membership in Orlando, {Couples} shall be pegging it with Hunter Hanneman, the teenage son of {Couples}’ spouse of two years, Suzanne.

Relative to many of the younger’uns within the subject, Hunter got here to golf late. He was 10 when he first began taking part in — this was a few years after Fred and Suzanne met — however he rapidly warmed to the sport, squeezing in a spherical or apply session between soccer and basketball video games. At this time, high-level volleyball is Hunter’s main pursuit, which Hunter says has helped him get comfy competing in entrance of huge crowds, as he’ll on the PNC.

This received’t be {Couples} and Hunter’s first time competing collectively. Final 12 months they teamed up at a member-member in Palm Springs, Calif. — they performed with NFL legend John Elway within the second spherical — and received. Earlier this fall, {Couples} mentioned he approached Hunter about taking part in within the PNC. Hunter took a day to consider it earlier than deciding he was in.

To dial in Hunter’s recreation, {Couples} and Hunter performed for 5 straight days in Palm Springs over Thanksgiving break. “He did nice,” {Couples} mentioned this week. “He hits it a good distance.”

{Couples} mentioned he’s “most likely extra fired up than Hunter” about this week. For years, {Couples} has watched his Tour friends — Raymond Floyd, DL3, Tiger — tee it up with their offspring on this occasion, which at all times left {Couples} feeling a bit wistful. “I’ve seen sufficient of it that each professional that walks off the 18th inexperienced says it was the best week of their lives,” he mentioned.

Now, {Couples}, who’s 65, will lastly get to expertise the competitors and camaraderie for himself.  

When Tiger — who’s taking part in within the PNC along with his son Charlie for the fifth time this week — obtained wind that {Couples} was taking part in, he dropped {Couples} a textual content.  

“Dude, I’m so excited for you,” Tiger wrote, as {Couples} recalled it. “It’s simply the cling that you simply’re going to like.”

{Couples} mentioned Tiger additionally requested if he and Hunter wished to play with him and Charlie.

“That’s not going to occur,” {Couples} mentioned he replied.

{Couples} and Hunter won’t really feel fairly prepared for the highlight that comes with taking part in with the Woodses, however they’ll be in a high-wattage group anyway, taking part in alongside world No. 1 Nelly Korda and her ex-tennis professional father, Petr. “We’re actually enthusiastic about that as a result of for Hunter and I to be on the identical tees with Nelly, we’ll settle one another down a bit of bit and have an excellent time,” {Couples} mentioned.

He added, “I’m going to look at Hunter quite a bit, watch Nelly quite a bit. I’m going to look at Hunter extra.”

{Couples} himself may also be value watching, partially as a result of followers haven’t seen him play a lot this 12 months. After lacking the minimize on the Masters within the April, he took 4 months off to relaxation his chronically dangerous again. He returned to the Champions tour in August however has performed simply three occasions within the final 5 months, with one top-20 end.

When requested this week if he nonetheless enjoys taking part in, {Couples} mentioned: “I do. I simply don’t final very lengthy. So I’ve tried my final six or eight years to determine how I could be aggressive and never simply go someplace and play and never beat anybody. After which I apply a bit of tougher, after which I’ll go play a match, after which my again goes out.

“Final 12 months was terrible. I couldn’t actually play. And I went to Augusta simply because I’m cussed and I wished to play.” This week, he added, “I truly — knock on wooden — really feel actually, actually good.”

In fact, regardless of how he and Hunter play, you get the sense that the week shall be successful regardless. In actual fact, sounds prefer it already has been. Of Hunter’s apply companions, {Couples} mentioned: “All eight folks pulled me apart and mentioned that they had a blast with Hunter. I used to be by no means actually nervous about it. He’s a shy murderer. He is aware of what to say.”