Fuente: © PGA (Professional Golfers' Association)
http://www.pga.info/

PGA: Couples holds out Open hope

/noticias.info/ Fred Couples is the same age as the oldest Open champion in history. But he has not given up yet on winning it - or using it as a springboard back into the Ryder Cup.

The popular American, playing the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond this week before heading to Hoylake, will be 47 in October. Old Tom Morris was 46 when he won the last of his four Open titles in 1867.

"It's not like I am going to sit here and tell you I'm going to be up there at Hoylake, but I'm not to a spot quite yet where I think age is a factor," he said. "When I do well I don't think it's surprising. At Augusta I started bombing it off the tee - I was driving it up with Phil (Mickelson)."

He added: "I feel like I can get it around the course and I just have to be ready and swinging well. That doesn't happen nearly as much."

Couples stands 12th in the current American Ryder Cup table and with five uncapped players occupying positions six to 10 his experience could yet earn him a wild card if he does not make it on points.

He is hoping a tip from Bob Torrance, father of former European captain Sam, could be a turning point after a disappointing three months.

"I just hit a wall after Augusta and I haven't bounced back very well at all. I had Bob watch me hit balls yesterday and today," he said.

"I said jokingly to Sam 'I'm playing so poorly, is your dad here?' and he sent him over later in the day.

"He's got a great eye. The things he told me right off the bat were the things I've been feeling. I don't know that much about the swing, but one thing clicked in and I feel like I'm hitting the ball very solid." notas_de_prensa_archivo