In addition to the final round at Augusta last year, Faldo has Norman to thank for being here this week. While the galleries will be curious to see the man who destroyed Norman at The Masters and are likely become critical if he is perceived not to be earning his appearance money, they will be far more sympathetic to Couples who is the most popular US Tour player since Nicklaus and Palmer used to play here regularly. This tournament, jointly sanctioned by the Australasian and European Tours, is the second richest ever staged in Australia. The richest was the Bicentennial Classic at Royal Melbourne in 1988 where Couples was defeated in a playoff by Rodger Davis. It was your bicentennial and it was right that it was won by an Australian.
Couples likes Hope Island's greens.
Couples says he is free of back troubles that have plagued him in recent years and his form in 1997 bears this out. I spent about two hours a day working to keep it in shape. If I don't do that, I can't play. But I am playing well and looking forward to this week. Courses have a lot to do with how you play.