The 1992 Masters winner, Fred Couples, was cruising on the first day of the Masters. He even made a hole-out eagle on the par-4 14th from just over 190 yards. But a very unfortunate implosion on day 2, where he carded 5 over par to finish with 4 over, missing the cut. However, that did not prevent him from making his pick for the Green Jacket winner this year. And you’ll be shocked to know his pick!

“Actually, for 50 years, golf has been changed. Arnold Palmer… Jack Nicklaus… Tiger Woods changed it. The LIV Tour ain’t changing a thing,”  said frustrated Fred Couples a while ago about LIV Golf. Saying that the “league is all about money,” the golf veteran made his feelings clear. So, despite being a very vocal critic of LIV Golf, Couples’s choice was Bryson DeChambeau.

“The guy to watch is DeChambeau. If it’s not blowing, I think he’s going to make 13 birdies the next two days. If it’s not blowing, so he can offset a few bogeys with the way he plays,” Couples stated during the post-match conference. While DeChambeau being picked as a potential winner is not a surprise, Couples picking him, sure is. But what made him pick the 2x US Open winner as his top pick?

DeChambeau has shown consistent performances during the first two days of the Augusta showdown. The LIV golfer shot three under par on the first day while carding four under par, courtesy of five birdies on the second to move from T5 to solo second. This consistency is what makes the American golfer extremely dangerous and is the same thing that has caught the eye of the veteran Couples, allowing him to make DeChambeau his pick for the winner.

DeChambeau is one of the two LIV players who are currently in the top 10, going into the weekend, with most others, including Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson, missing the cut.

Actually, DeChambeau is not the only one who has caught the eye of the one-time major winner, Fred Couples.

Other top picks from Fred Couples

“Look at what Rory did today. Everyone was picking on him after a couple doubles. He says, You know what? Here’s what I’m going to do: the back nine. Did he shoot 30? 31. So there you go, folks.” Couples were added to his thoughts after day 2. Rory McIlroy‘s tournament has been a topsy-turvy one. He started strong in the first round, registering 4 under par till the 14th hole, before scoring two double bogeys to finish the round on even par. But true to his character, he fought back on day 2, registering a day-low 6 under par to finish at T3, one stroke off DeChambeau in second and two off Rose in first.

Couples also gave flowers to Scottie Scheffler, Tyrrell Hatton, and Max McCarty, who are right behind the leading pack. McCarty also impressed with his showing on day 2, scoring a 4 under par to move to T5. “It’s fun to watch. Scheffler has been battling, and Tyrrell Hatton, and I don’t know McCarty very well, but that’s what I enjoy. Some guy got 2-over; now he’s 5-under with a bogey on 18. I don’t know how you do that. I don’t know how you make 8-under. I don’t get it.”  The 15-time PGA Tour winner explained.

Do you think that DeChambeau holds the best chance at winning the green jacket this year, just like Fred Couples? Or do you think that the moving day is going to put a new contender to the forefront of the competition?