Fred Couples holes ball after turning away
Frederick Steven Couples, known as Fred Couples, holed a ball during a closest-to-the-pin contest at the 2026 Sanford International in Sioux Falls. The event took place under lights at Minnehaha Country Club during tournament week.
Couples used a hybrid, aimed about 15 to 20 yards right of the flag, and made a compact half swing. His yellow ball rolled across the green and dropped directly into the cup.
Fred Couples aims 15 to 20 yards right
Fred Couples aimed roughly 15 to 20 yards right of the flag before striking the ball. He used a hybrid and made a compact half swing during the closest-to-the-pin contest.
The yellow ball moved across the green toward the cup after landing. Couples had already turned toward the nearby group while spectators kept watching until the ball completed its path and went in.
Fred Couples predicts the result
Fred Couples commented on the attempt before its final result became clear. After making contact, he turned toward the nearby group and said the ball was going to be really good.
Split-screen footage then showed the yellow ball rolling toward the cup. Couples stayed turned away from the target and did not look back before the ball eventually entered the hole.
Fred Couples never looks back
Fred Couples never turned back to watch the ball finish its path. Video from the contest showed him facing the gathered players, while another view followed the yellow ball across the putting surface.
The ball kept rolling after Couples had turned away from the target. When it dropped into the cup, the nearby group reacted immediately while he remained facing away from the hole.
Fred Couples avoids five balls
Fred Couples’ yellow ball had several obstacles to avoid during its final roll. Five other balls were already sitting on the green as his attempt approached the hole under the lights.
The moving ball missed all five and reached the cup without touching another one. That clean route mattered because several stationary balls already occupied the putting surface near its intended path.
Fred Couples performs before top players
Fred Couples made the attempt in front of John Daly, Henrik Stenson, and Miguel Ángel Jiménez. All three were present during the closest-to-the-pin contest held during Sanford International week.
The group brought extensive professional experience to the evening event in Sioux Falls. Couples’ result stood out because the ball finished in the hole while several well-known players watched from nearby.
Fred Couples returns after four years
Fred Couples returned to the Sanford International in 2026 for the first time since 2022. His comeback placed the 1992 Masters champion back at Minnehaha Country Club after a four-year absence.
In 2022, Couples tied for 38th at 4 under after rounds of 69, 65, and 72. His 2026 appearance, therefore, marked another competitive visit to a course he had previously played.
Fred Couples joins a 78-player field
Fred Couples joined a 78-player field for the 2026 Sanford International. The tournament used 54 holes of stroke play from Friday through Sunday, with no cut before the final round.
Official competition ran from September 11 through 13 at Minnehaha Country Club in Sioux Falls. Tournament week spanned September 7 through 13 and included practice rounds, pro-am events, and public activities.
Fred Couples plays a 6,747-yard course
Fred Couples competed on a Minnehaha Country Club layout measuring 6,747 yards at par 70. William Langford designed the Sioux Falls course for the 2026 Sanford International golf tournament.
The tournament schedule also included practice rounds, a skins game, clinics, and a separate 9-hole exhibition on Saturday. Those events surrounded the three days of official competition at Minnehaha Country Club.
Fred Couples enters $2.2 million event
Fred Couples entered the Sanford International with a $2.2 million purse, including $330,000 for the champion. The prize structure gave the 2026 tournament a clearly defined financial scale for all competitors.
Retief Goosen entered as the defending champion after winning the 2025 event at 13 under par. Steve Stricker arrived as a four-time Sanford winner following victories there in 2018, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Fun fact: Fred Couples earned the nickname “Boom Boom” because of his long drives, despite a swing that often looks unusually relaxed and effortless.
Fred Couples owns 14 Champions wins
Fred Couples completed the Sanford International with 14 career PGA Tour Champions victories. The tournament became his fifth PGA Tour Champions start of 2026, and he remained winless for the season with 2 top-25 finishes.
Couples finished the three-round event at 12 over par. His continued tournament appearances at age 66 showed that he remained active on the senior circuit during the 2026 season.
Fred Couples won the 1992 Masters
Fred Couples built his career around a 1992 Masters victory, his only major championship. He finished 2 strokes ahead of Raymond Floyd at Augusta National to secure the title that season.
His record also includes Players Championship victories in 1984 and 1996. Couples won the PGA Tour Player of the Year and Vardon Trophy honors in both 1991 and 1992 during his prime competitive years.
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Fred Couples returns at age 66
Fred Couples was 66 during the 2026 Sanford International and turned professional in 1980. He was born in Seattle and played college golf at the University of Houston before beginning his professional career.
The 2026 Sanford field included 4 World Golf Hall of Fame members. Couples joined Bernhard Langer, Davis Love III, and defending champion Retief Goosen among the recognized inductees competing in Sioux Falls.
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Fred Couples called his shot and turned away before the ball went in. Was that confidence, instinct, or simply decades of experience? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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