Winner of the 1992 Masters and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, Fred Couples is famous for his smooth, relaxed swing. Here is his career overview, his swing speed, and a summary of his lesson.
Who is Fred Couples?
Fred Couples is an American professional golfer who was born on October 3, 1959, in Seattle. After attending the University of Houston, he turned professional in 1980.
He wins 15 wins on the PGA Tour, including the 1992 Masters, his major title. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2013.
Fred Couples' Career Highlights
| Event | Result |
|---|---|
| Masters | Winner in 1992 |
| The Players Championship | Winner in 1984 and 1996 |
| PGA Tour | 15 wins |
| PGA Tour Champions | 14 wins |
| Presidents Cup | Captain of the U.S. team, which won in 2009, 2011, and 2013 |
| World Golf Hall of Fame | Inducted in 2013 |
Key Points of Fred Couples' Swing
Fred Couples worked with Paul Marchand throughout his career. Dick Harmon, who also worked with him from 1981, described in 1991 a 'syrupy' tempo that hides a lot of speed. Here is what makes this swing look so effortless.
- Setup: An athletic setup, feet slightly wider than the shoulders, knees flexed, and the ball about an inch farther away than normal so the arms can fully extend. (GOLF.com, 1991)
- An open stance: In his own words, he never really aligned and always stood open. To manage it, he pictured his coach Paul Marchand standing behind him. (GOLF.com, 2025)
- A big shoulder turn: His only backswing thought: a big shoulder turn. At three-quarters of the backswing his shoulders have already turned about 90°, wrists fully hinged. (Australian Golf Digest, 2022)
- A shorter backswing: Paul Marchand kept asking him to swing shorter; his reference was getting his hands over his shoelaces. (GOLF.com, 2025)
- Transition: Because his turn is complete, he doesn't think about the change of direction. He pushes off his trail foot to shift his weight left while the trail elbow drops toward the hip. (GOLF.com, 2024)
- Impact: Weight left, hips clearing, head behind the ball and arms extended. He sends the club down the target line rather than around his body, otherwise the ball would go well right. (GOLF.com, 2024)
- Finish, fade and speed: He keeps his spine angle into a finish with the club pointing slightly left, matching his natural fade. His very smooth tempo hid driver clubhead speed of more than 120 mph. (GOLF.com, 1991)
What Amateurs Can Copy from Fred Couples' Swing
- Make the shoulder turn your power source: turn as far as your body allows, then let the hips unwind, instead of hitting with your hands. See our body rotation lessons.
- After the turn, clear your hips and send the club down the target line rather than around your body. See our swing plane lessons.
- Use one simple, concrete cue (his was the shoelaces) and hold your finish. See our finish lessons.
Compare with other pros' swings.
Fred Couples' swing: relaxed, but quick through the ball
His swing looks fluid and effortless. Yet, he explains, what matters is the speed through the ball: It was this that gave him good distance control with his short irons and wedge. In fact, he has been playing without a glove since childhood.
A cut as a basic shot
On the course, most of his shots are cuts: he aims to the left and swings with a fairly firm stroke. With the driver, he places the ball very low on the tee to get it to fly lower, without forcing it.
Read the lie before choosing your shot
With a wedge, from a good lie, his natural swing is enough. When the ball is buried in the rough, he opens the clubface and aims for a very soft shot.
Fred Couples' Lesson on Best Golf Tips
- Swing (Swing and Swing Plane): Fred Couples and Adam Scott on the driving range: speed and reading the lie.
Do you like the Masters champions? Check out the profiles of’Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy.
FAQ About Fred Couples
Who is Fred Couples?
Fred Couples is an American professional golfer born in 1959 in Seattle, winner of the 1992 Masters and 15 PGA Tour events, and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame since 2013.
How many majors has Fred Couples won?
Just one: the Masters, in 1992. He also won The Players Championship twice, in 1984 and 1996.
What is the secret to Fred Couples' swing?
A swing that appeared smooth and relaxed, with a lot of speed through the ball. According to him, that speed helped him control his distances with the short irons and the wedge.
What lesson from Fred Couples can you find on Best Golf Tips?
A driving range session with Adam Scott, summarized: swing speed, reading the lie with a wedge, the cut, and a low tee with the driver.
