October 21, 2022 – Bettinardi Tour staffer Fred Couples secured his 14th win on the PGA Tour Champions this past weekend at the SAS Championship at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, NC. Couples shot an astounding 12 under par (60) on Sunday, which was the lowest final-round score by a PGA Tour Champions winner in the Tour’s 43-year history.
After a strong start to the weekend with 68’s on both Friday and Saturday, Couples separated himself from the field with his record-setting performance. His score Sunday was the lowest he’s shot in competition, with twelve birdies and six pars, and a putting average of 1.467 putts per hole throughout the tournament. He started the day tied for the lead and finished 6 strokes ahead of second place after birdieing 12 of his last 14 holes.
“I think it’s the best round I ever played,” said Fred Couples, who beat his age by three shots with his Sunday round.
As if the golf veteran’s weekend wasn’t monumental enough, the Bettinardi Golf Tour staffer, Fred Couples, also secured Bettinardi’s 100th professional victory. Couples has been with Bettinardi since 2013, and has secured 6 PGA Tour Champions wins in his time using a Bettinardi putter. Couples now putts with a DASS Studio Stock 28 with a welded flow neck for more toe hang.
“Fred Couples has been a staple of the Bettinardi Tour staff since he joined our brand nearly 10 years ago,” said Robert Bettinardi, CEO/Founder of Bettinardi Golf. “With his remarkable round, Fred’s win marks our brand’s 100th professional victory since I founded Bettinardi 24 years ago. We couldn’t have picked a more iconic player to reach this milestone.”
In the coming weeks, Bettinardi will be celebrating their centennial victory with limited product released in The Hive.
April 13, 2020 –Bridgestone Golf, the #1 Ball-Fitter in Golf, has unveiled its ground-breaking 2020 TOUR B family of golf balls, reinventing the Tour ball as golfers know it. The TOUR B family delivers a game-changing combination of driver distance and greenside control unlike anything ever before, thanks to Bridgestone’s new REACTIV Urethane cover. The 2020 TOUR B balls are offered in 4 distinct models, each designed to appeal to a wide array of swing speeds and feel preferences – TOUR B X, TOUR B XS, TOUR B RX and TOUR B RXS.
Since modern golf balls were created in the early 20th century, golf ball engineers have been trying to combat the inverse relationship between driver distance and greenside spin. Even with the advancement of urethane covered balls in the early 2000’s, a step change pioneered by Bridgestone engineers with Tiger Woods, the fact remained that when designers wanted to give a ball more distance, they needed to sacrifice some level of greenside control and vice versa. In 2020, Tiger has once again teamed up with Bridgestone’s 900 rubber and polymer engineers worldwide for a transformational golf ball innovation, this time solving the riddle of spin separation with the new REACTIV cover.
“Reinventing the Tour ball wasn’t something that happened overnight, this is a new technology that we have been working on for years,” said Elliot Mellow, Golf Ball Marketing Manager for Bridgestone Golf. “We knew that there was a fundamental issue with traditional urethane covers that we needed to overcome – golfers historically have had to choose distance OR spin in a Tour ball. We are pioneering a new age in Tour ball design with this REACTIV cover. It’s rather remarkable that this new cover provides more distance AND more spin in the same ball, thus giving golfers better performance on all shots.”
REACTIV is the golf world’s first SMART Urethane – using an “impact modifier” to deliver a shock absorbing soft cover on slow impact shots for more spin and control – and high resilience on high impact shots for more power and distance. The material reacts differently depending on the force of the impact. In essence, on the violent impact of a driver, REACTIV rebounds quicker than other urethane covers, generating more ball speed and longer distance. On the softer touch and feel of wedge shots, REACTIV keeps the ball on the face longer, allowing golfers to impart more spin and have better control in the short game.
“The golf ball category is a fight for market share. Reinventing the product has always been our way to compete,” said Dan Murphy, President and CEO of Bridgestone Golf. “While others focus on marketing hype and cosmetics, we’ve focused on making a better performing ball. The REACTIV cover technology is the most dramatic step change to cover construction since 1999 when we led the industry from Balata to Urethane covered Tour balls. Combining Tiger with 900 polymer engineers from Bridgestone Tire has proven an unstoppable formula. This new technology will redefine what pros and amateurs expect from a golf ball.”
Bridgestone Tour Team Embraces New TOUR B Family for 2020 Season
The 2020 TOUR B family includes two high swing speed models – TOUR B X and TOUR B XS – that are specifically designed for players with driver swing speeds of 105 mph and above. They both are three-piece constructions with REACTIV cover that feature Bridgestone’s patented Gradational Compression Core technology and Active Acceleration Mantle to ensure Tour level distance in the long game. The TOUR B XS offers a softer feel and maximum greenside spin, allowing golfers to stop approaches and pitches on a dime. The TOUR B X delivers “hit and sit” performance on approach shots and greenside chips.
Tiger Woods will use the new TOUR B XS in play, while Matt Kuchar and Bryson DeChambeau have been trusting the TOUR B X since the fall season.
“I’ve worked with Bridgestone’s R&D team for nearly 20 years now, so I know they are the market leader in golf ball innovation, but the last couple of years have been different,” said Tiger Woods. “Working closely with the R&D team I’ve been able to take ownership of this design more than any other ball spec in my career. We have taken it to the next level with the new REACTIV cover. It gives me the right feel and has short game spin that exceeds my previous Urethane ball. Off the tee, ball speed is up and this new TOUR B XS is definitely longer while still being in my window.”
For more moderate swing speed players (below 105 mph), Bridgestone offers the 2020 TOUR B RX and TOUR B RXS. Like their high-swing speed brethren, the RXS is designed with a slightly softer cover to generate maximum greenside spin, while the RX delivers solid feel and consistent hit-and-sit performance. Each ball also utilizes a 3-piece REACTIV cover construction that is powered by a Gradational Compression Core and Active Acceleration Mantle layer. 2020 marks the first time ever that Bridgestone’s RX family will be regularly played on the PGA TOUR Champions, with both Fred Couples and Rocco Mediate using the TOUR B RXS in competition.
“I don’t play the same ball as Tiger, but I found a better ball for me,” said Fred Couples. “The softer RXS is a perfect fit for me. Bridgestone ball fitting has opened my eyes to this better technology. For my swing these balls allow me to boom it off the tee and also give me more spin and feel greenside.”
March 18, 2020 –Global golf footwear innovators, ECCO Golf, have unveiled ECCO Golf STREET 10, paying homage to the 10-year anniversary of the hybrid revolution sparked by ECCO Golf and ambassador, Fred Couples, who famously wore the original GOLF STREET shoes at The Masters in 2010.
A concept that changed the way people think about golf shoe design and widely regarded as the biggest game-changer in the history of the golf footwear industry, the original GOLF STREET was born from the simple notion that a golf shoe can be so much more than just a golf shoe.
Many of the shoes in the current ECCO Golf collection, including GOLF STREET 10, still rely on the award-winning Ecco Dynamic Traction System (E-DTS) all-day hybrid outsole design, which featured in the original GOLF STREET and has withstood the test of time.
Testament to the original ground-breaking design, GOLF STREET 10 stays true to the core design with the addition of several subtle yet classic details of elegance and luxury. A special edition shoe which is only will be available at selected retail and ECCO e-commerce sites, GOLF STREET 10 honours the iconic original hybrid design with a contemporary set of key features, including:
The introduction of an all-new midsole material, PU PHORENE, signifies a giant leap in ECCO’s FLUIDFORM process. With unparalleled softness, increased shock absorption and rebound, the dynamic comfort that has always been at the heart of ECCO design and technology is pushed to an all-new level
The award-winning Ecco Dynamic Traction System (E-DTS) hybrid outsole design that provides more than 100 traction bars and 800 traction angles for excellent grip in all playing conditions
Varnishing details that pay tribute to the 10-year anniversary of the original GOLF STREET design, including bronze detailing on the lace ends and two eyelids, a ‘HYBRID 10’ logo in bronze screen print on the heel and a commemorative shoe box and key ring
The leather uppers, made in ECCO-owned tanneries, are crafted from Ecco Fluffy Pebble Nappa, a tumbled, full-grain, pebbled nappa leather with an aniline finish and a plush, silky touch.
By treating the uppers with ECCO-developed HYDROMAX, the leather stays strong and durable, keeping feet dry and comfortable with enhanced breathability.
A premium and high quality micro-perforated leather lining promotes sophisticated aesthetics while leather-lined inlay soles offer unique moisture management properties, as well as enhanced performance through long-term cushioning and maximum comfort.
GOLF STREET 10 is crafted at company-owned factories that utilise FLUIDFORMtechnology to bond the upper and outsole unit, creating a one-piece shoe without the use of glue or stitching. Benefits include flexibility, durability and a lightweight construction.
November 13, 2018 – Danish shoemakers ECCO Golf have announced the renewal of their partnership with golf legend and World Golf Hall-of-Famer, Fred Couples.
Couples’ performance in the 2010 Masters tournament while wearing ECCO’s pioneering Golf Street launched the Hybrid golf shoe category to the world, and the American will continue to wear the brand’s innovative shoes and sport the ECCO Golf logo on the left of his headwear as a result of the multi-year extension.
“I honestly can’t imagine competing in any other shoes,” commented Fred Couples following the announcement. “ECCO Golf have been a big part of my journey for over a decade and I’m ecstatic to be partnering with them for the foreseeable future.”
The Golf Digest certified “Coolest Golfer of all Time” has enjoyed a stellar career worldwide, notably winning the 1992 Masters Tournament and the 1984 and ’96 PLAYERS Championship. Having joined the Champions Tour in 2010, he has taken his total career win tally to 62 and claimed two further major championships at the SENIOR PLAYERS Championship ’11 and the Senior Open Championship ’12.
“Fred has been an amazing ambassador for our brand for over a decade,” said Jesper Thuen, responsible for global golf sponsorship for ECCO Golf. “He’s an incredible golfer, a legend of the game and we’re very proud to be able to continue such a successful partnership together.”
January 22, 2018 – Fred Couples, one of the biggest star names in the game of golf, has signed to play Bettinardi premium putters exclusively on the PGA Champions Tour and in other events around the world this year.
The charismatic player from Seattle, who has won more than 60 professional tournaments – including 15 PGA Tour titles and 13 on the Champions Tour – joins the Bettinardi Tour staff on the eve of competing in the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in Hawaii, where he finished second last year.
“I’m really looking forward to representing Bettinardi and its beautiful range of hand-made putters, as they always give me great confidence when I’m standing over putts,” said Fred Couples. “Having won five times already with a Bettinardi putter, there’s nothing I’d rather be putting with.”
Famous for his smooth swing and rhythmic putting stroke, Couples has been using his namesake Bettinardi model – FCB (Fred Couples Blade) – for the past four years. During that time, he won five times on the Champions Tour and finished in the top 20 at three of the four Masters he played in, including T18 at Augusta last year.
Averaging 1.70 putts per hole when playing in 12 events with the Bettinardi Tour only putter last year, he won twice and had five top 10 results.
“Having Fred Couples join our Tour staff is a massive endorsement for Bettinardi Golf,” said founder Robert Bettinardi. “We’re so proud and excited to welcome him to our growing Tour staff. I’m sure he will prove to be a great ambassador for our brand, as he attracts huge crowds and media attention wherever he plays.”
Fred Couples, 58, was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2013 after winning more than $30 million in prize money during a professional career that began in 1980. A former World No.1, he won the Masters in 1992 and The Players Championship in 1984 and 1996. He has also represented the USA in five Ryder Cup contests and captained his country to victory in the Presidents Cup on three occasions.
Based in Chicago, Bettinardi Golf is one of the fastest-growing equipment brands in golf. It has become famous for its hand-crafted putters made in the USA from a single piece of high quality steel using hi-tech CNC milling technology.
September 4, 2014 – Danish company Ecco, a leading manufacturer of innovative footwear, confirms that Staff Player Fred Couples wore its award-winning BIOM Hybrid golf shoes featuring E-DTS outsole technology en route to winning the Shaw Charity Classic this past weekend at Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Showcasing the Ecco logo on his headwear, Couples shot a course-record, 9-under 61 on Sunday, highlighted by eagles at Nos. 11 and 18. That brought him from four-back starting the round into a tie for the lead at the end of regulation. He then claimed the title – his 11th career Champions Tour crown – with a tap-in birdie on the first playoff hole.
“To come back and win is a great feeling,” said Fred Couples. “I consider this to be a nice, tricky, tough little course and no bogeys is good.”
The 54-year-old opened the week with rounds of 68 and 66, and surged to the top of the leaderboard on his final nine. A chip in from the primary rough on the 18th earned him one of the day’s biggest ovations.
“Fred’s game is truly ageless,” says Jesper Thuen, Global Sponsorship, PR & Event Manager – Ecco Golf. “Whenever he tees it up, regardless of the competition, he’s a threat to go low and earn a victory.”
Like all Ecco shoes in the hybrid category the company pioneered, BIOM Hybrid is built atop the patented E-DTS outsole boasting approximately 100 moulded traction bars and 800 traction angles. Constructed from TPU – a highly durable, wear-resistant material – these elements provide superb, Tour-quality grip.
E-DTS sole combines with another patented innovation – Natural Motion technology – to provide the exceptional levels of comfort, stability and traction for which Ecco is renowned.
September 3, 2014 – The latest victory for a Bettinardi Golf putter arrived last weekend with Fred Couples, who shot a final round of 61 at the Shaw Charity Classic on the Champions Tour, at Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club in Canada.
Couples is using a model called the FC Prototype. This putter was custom-made for him late last summer when Robert Bettinardi approached Fred at the Encompass Championship in August 2013. Three weeks later the company delivered the putter to him and the fourth week he switched! This putter is not available by retail, and currently is a Tour Only model.
Since he switched to the Bettinardi putter, Couples has won 3 times: the Charles Schwab Cup Championship (November 2013), the Toshiba Classic (March 2014) and the Shaw Charity Classic (August 2014).
