Fred Couples had a Masters to forget this week at Augusta National. But after he officially exited the 2024 Masters field following a self-described “embarrassing” performance, he fired off a dig at LIV Golf and LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman’s expense.
Couples, the 1992 Masters champion, came into this week feeling less than confident about the state of his game as well as his bad back, which has haunted him throughout his career.
‘It’s embarrassing’: Fred Couples’ brutal Masters ends with candid self-reflection
Still, he’s had lots of success at the Masters in his older years, and even he was doubtful he would be bad enough to shoot 80.
But the 64-year-old golf legend did just that in Thursday’s opening round. On Friday, he wasn’t much better, shooting 76 to finish at 12 over and miss the cut. The very same day, Tiger Woods made the cut to break the consecutive Masters cut streak, a record formerly held by Couples.
Meanwhile, Norman, who failed to win a Masters in his career, showed up at Augusta National on Thursday and Friday to follow the 13 LIV Golf players in the field. Norman was specifically not invited to the Masters last year, and he claimed the same was true this year.
According to Norman, to get into the gates he had to have someone else buy a ticket for him like any other patron.
Why Greg Norman showed up at the Masters a year after he wasn’t invited
This is where the Norman and Couples storylines intersect. Because after his second round, Couples took to X and took aim at Norman’s surprising difficulty at getting through the gates.
Couples tweeted the following: “13 @livgolf_league players in the field for @themasters and none of them could get @sharkgregnorman a ticket? Greg had to buy one? Next year if you need one Shark let me know.”
Couples’ offer was likely said in jest. The World Golf Hall of Famer has been an outspoken critic of LIV Golf and Norman ever since the league was founded.
He even had some harsh words for LIV earlier this week, saying, “Now, everything can get better, but let me tell you, if the LIV tour is better for golf, I’m missing something there,” Couples said on Tuesday at Augusta. “But again, I’m not here to bash them anymore. I’m going to see them all tonight.”
But this might not be the end of the story. As a former winner, it’s possible Couples sticks around for the weekend despite missing the cut, watching the action from the galleries in his green jacket. And with several LIV Golf players near the top of the leaderboard, including Bryson DeChambeau, there’s a good chance Norman will be there again on Saturday, too.
