Fred Couples is an American professional golfer voted by his peers as PGA TOUR Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992. His career year came in 1992, when he won three tournaments, including the Masters, and earned more than $1.3 million. He entered final round of Masters trailing Craig Parry by one stroke. Closing 70 good for two-stroke victory. Masters completed remarkable streak during which he won three tournaments and finished second twice in six starts. For the third time in his career he collected two victories in 1998. Final-round 66 earned playoff spot with Bruce Lietzke at Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, which he won with birdie on first extra hole at Bermuda Dunes. He earned 14th TOUR title with four-stroke win over Andrew Magee at Memorial Tournament and fell one stroke shy of winning his second Masters in '98 after leading each of first three rounds. He was the only Masters champion who has never missed a cut at Augusta National. His other multiple-victory year was 1991 when he took lead at Federal Express St. Jude Classic with third-round 66 and went on to three-stroke victory over Rick Fehr. Won B.C. Open by three strokes as well. In 1996, became first player to win two PLAYERS Championships at TPC at Sawgrass. Trailed Tommy Tolles by four strokes through 54 holes, but closing 64, featuring eagle at 16 and birdie at 17, sealed victory. First title at TPC at Sawgrass, in 1984, featured second-round 64 en route to two-stroke victory over Lee Trevino. His first TOUR victory came in five-man playoff at 1983 Kemper Open. He birdied second playoff hole to defeat T.C. Chen, Barry Jaeckel, Gil Morgan and Scott Simpson. He recorded back-to-back victories on PGA European Tour in 1995, first American to do so since Charles Coody in 1973 and teamed with Davis Love III to win four consecutive World Cup of Golf titles (1992-95). He won 1995, 1996 and a record $635,000 at 1999 Skins Game. He also won Lincoln-Mercury Kaplua International in 1993 and 1994 and teamed with Raymond Floyd in 1990, Brad Faxon in 1994 and David Duval in 1999 for three Franklin Templeton Shark Shootout titles. He teamed with Mike Donald to win 1990 Sazale Classic and was the Vardon Trophy winner in 1991 and 1992. In1992 he was the Arnold Palmer Award winner and was thePGA of America Player of the Year.
