Fred Couples Slams LIV Golfers and Phil Mickelson, Praises Will Zalatoris for Rejecting $130 Million Offer

Golf legend Fred Couples has revealed that rising star Will Zalatoris rejected a nine-figure offer to join LIV Golf, worth a whopping $130 million (£110m).^[0] Couples was speaking at the PGA Tour Champions breakfast ahead of the Hoag Classic in Newport Beach, where he currently resides.^[1]

Couples said: “Money is zero object [for LIV]. I give Will a lot of credit; he wants [to stay with] the PGA Tour.”^[2] He went on to criticise the players who have joined the league, saying: “Just go to the LIV Tour, but stop blasting something I’ve been a part of for 42 years. That’s my problem with (LIV golfers). They’re all bashing the PGA Tour, and that affects me a little bit.”^[3]

The 63-year-old also had a few choice words for Phil Mickelson, calling him a “nutbag,” but still believes he's one of the 10 best golfers ever and “still” likes him.^[4] Couples also mentioned Cameron Smith, without actually saying his name, and admonished him for having said, “Now I can have birthdays and go to the weddings of my mates.”^[5]

Finally, Couples conveyed his lack of knowledge of the LIV Tour, saying: “I don’t know anything about the LIV Tour, except they overpay all of them.”^[6] It is clear that Couples is not a fan of the Saudi-backed tour, but he did understand why players are tempted by the money.

0. “Reports suggest Will Zalatoris turned down unreal offer from LIV Golf” Sportskeeda, 16 Mar. 2023, https://www.sportskeeda.com/golf/news-reports-suggest-will-zalatoris-turned-unreal-offer-liv-golf

1. “Garcia Called A ‘Clown' And Mickelson A ‘Nutbag' As Couples Hits Out At LIV Golf” Golf Monthly, 16 Mar. 2023, https://www.golfmonthly.com/news/garcia-called-a-clown-and-mickelson-a-nutbag-as-couples-hits-out-at-liv-golf

2. “US Open runner-up with £12m career earnings ‘turned down' huge £110m offer to join LIV” The Mirror, 17 Mar. 2023, https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/golf/liv-golf-will-zalatoris-couples-29484751

3. “Fred Couples absolutely blasts LIV Golf” The Comeback, 16 Mar. 2023, https://thecomeback.com/golf/fred-couples-liv-golf-pga-tour-criticize.html

4. “Fred Couples calls Phil Mickelson a ‘nutbag' and Sergio Garcia a ‘clown' in speech for the ages” msnNOW, 16 Mar. 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/golf/fred-couples-calls-phil-mickelson-a-nutbag-and-sergio-garcia-a-clown-in-speech-for-the-ages/ar-AA18IlVJ

5. “Fred Couples Still Taking Shots at a LIV Golfers, Calls Phil Mickelson a ‘Nutbag'” The Big Lead, 16 Mar. 2023, https://www.thebiglead.com/posts/fred-couples-liv-phil-mickelson-nutbag-overpaid-sergio-garcia-cam-smith-insults001gvng806k96

6. “LIV Golf offered $130 MILLION to Will Zalatoris, Fred Couple says” Daily Mail, 17 Mar. 2023, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-11870551/LIV-Golf-offered-130-MILLION-Zalatoris-Fred-Couple-says.html