Couples Keeps His Golf Goals to Himself : L.A. Open: Magazine article by Weiskopf compliments his talent, criticizes his ambition.

Tom Weiskopf, commenting in the March issue of Golf Digest, analyzed some of today’s leading players.

He wasn’t particularly kind to Fred Couples, the defending champion of the Nissan Los Angeles Open that begins Thursday at Riviera Country Club.

In evaluating Couples, Weiskopf said: “Great talent. No goals in life. Not one. He’s not as easygoing as some people think. You can see the pressure gets to him. He has great touch and power, but if he had Jack’s (Nicklaus) goals. . . .”

Couples, 31, is regarded as one of the game’s most talented players. He was won four tournaments in his 11-year career and has come close to winning a few majors.

Some contend that he should have won more often, given his talent. He has been high on the money winning list the past four years and played on the Ryder Cup team in 1989.

Asked to respond to Weiskopf’s analysis, Couples said Tuesday:

“For him to say I have a bad grip or swing is fine. To read my mind is crazy.

“When that (article) comes out, a lot of my friends are going to hate the guy.”

Couples says that he’s an acquaintance of Weiskopf.

“When I see him, I say ‘Nice to see you. I wish you’d play more.’ He quit at the ripe ageof 40.”

Weiskopf, 48, retired from a competitive golf schedule in 1982 to pursue a career in TV commentating and golf course architecture.

“I like him,” Couples said. “I don’t find it surprising (that he should be critical), because he’s just telling what he thinks.

“But he should still continue to play. It was fun watching him play. When I was growing up, I thought he was the best. Stuff like that (in the article) doesn’t bother me.

“I enjoy playing golf and that’s a goal. If I can play 20 years and have fun at it. . . . I don’t tell people (about goals). It’s embarrassing.

“I’m not different from anyone. I just don’t feel like after I’ve played good for three days (that I should) say I’m the best player in the world right now, that no one is going to beat me.

“It’s not that I don’t have confidence in myself. If I thought and said that, I think I’d turn a lot of people off.

“I make funny comments throughout the year, like ‘I’m playing bad and I really want to get away from golf and I don’t care.’ I shouldn’t say that.

“On the other hand, I shouldn’t say I’ve got goals this year, such as ‘I want to win the L.A. Open, a major and a million bucks.’ Who cares?”

In the Golf Digest article, Weiskopf also commented on Mark Calcavecchia, the 1989 Los Angeles Open Winner and a good friend of Couples:

“He plays on guts alone. He’s got no swing. It’s an awful swing. Great short game and putter, but with that swing he’ll need it.”

L.A. Open Notes

Larry Mize chipped to within 3 1/2 feet of the cup from a severe sidehill lie to beat Chip Beck in a chipoff and win the Merrill Lynch Shootout Tuesday at Riviera. Each player parred the final hole, the 18th, to force the chipoff. Ten players began the shootout on the 10th hole, with a player being eliminated each hole. Mize won $4,000 and Beck earned $2,500. . . . Phil Blackmar won the long-drive contest with a best effort of 309 yards. Barry Cheesman was second at 289 yards.