AUGUSTA, Georgia - Fred Couples has removed himself from consideration to be the next United States Ryder Cup captain. Speaking after his second round at the Masters, the 66-year-old Hall of Famer said the job was not for him at this stage of his life.
"It's a really hard job. Not that I wouldn't want it, but I'm a little old to be worried about what kind of stuff they got to do," Couples said. He suggested a surprising alternative: a return for Keegan Bradley, who captained the U.S. side to a loss last September.
Couples, a five-time Ryder Cup player and three-time vice-captain, believes the key to the role is a relaxed approach focused solely on the players. "I think you need to worry about the players only and not other things, and I think that would help us," he said.
The PGA of America is searching for a captain after Tiger Woods declined the role last week. Couples also endorsed former British Open champion Justin Leonard as a top contender for the job.
Europe has already named Luke Donald as its captain for the 2025 contest, where he will aim to lead the team to a third consecutive victory.