Chris Couch Explained

Chris Couch
Fullname:Christian Stratton Couch
Birth Date:May 1, 1973
Birth Place:Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Weight:225lb
Residence:Winter Garden, Florida
College:University of Florida
Yearpro:1995
Tour:PGA Tour
Prowins:6
Pgawins:1
Nwidewins:5 (Tied 7th all time)
Masters:DNP
Usopen:DNP
Open:DNP
Pga:CUT: 2006

Christian Stratton Couch (born May 1, 1973) is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour.

Life and career

Couch was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Buddy Alexander's Florida Gators men's golf team in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competition from 1992 to 1995.[1] As a sophomore, he was a member of the Gators' 1993 NCAA championship team that also included future PGA Tour golfer Brian Gay.[1] During his time as a Gator golfer, the team also won Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships in 1992, 1993 and 1994.[1] Couch was recognized as the SEC Freshman of the Year in 1992, a second-team All-SEC selection in 1993 and 1994, and a first-team All-SEC selection in 1995.[1] In 1993 and 1995, he received All-American honors.[2]

Couch turned professional in 1995. It took him a long time to get established and his first couple of spells on the PGA Tour ended when he failed to win enough money to retain his tour card. He won five times on the Nationwide Tour between 2001 and 2005, and in 2006 he made a breakthrough by winning the PGA Tour's Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He won with a 55-foot chip-in (using a cross-handed grip) after a poor shot out of a difficult lie in a bunker.

A poor 2007 season saw Couch finish 167th on the money list and he did not play in 2008 due to a shoulder injury. He played on the PGA Tour in 2009 and 2010 on a major medical extension. By August 2010, Couch earned enough to satisfy his medical exemption and keep his tour card.

Couch went six years without playing a PGA Tour event due to a back injury before making the cut at the 2018 Valspar Championship with a T68.

Professional wins (6)

Nationwide Tour wins (5)

Legend
Tour Championships (1)
Other Nationwide Tour (4)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1Mar 11, 2001Buy.com Florida Classic−15 (67-69-69-64=269)1 stroke Chad Campbell
2Sep 14, 2003Oregon Classic−14 (66-68-71-69=274)Playoff Jason Bohn
3Nov 2, 2003Nationwide Tour Championship−18 (66-67-65-72=270)3 strokes D. J. Brigman
4May 15, 2005Rheem Classic−15 (69-66-70-60=265)5 strokes Troy Matteson
5Jun 12, 2005LaSalle Bank Open−15 (66-67-69-67=269)4 strokes Kevin Durkin, Paul Gow,
Mario Tiziani

Nationwide Tour playoff record (1–0)

Results in major championships

CUT = missed the half-way cut
Note: Couch only played in the PGA Championship.

Results in The Players Championship

CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Results in World Golf Championships

Tournament2006
Match Play
Championship
InvitationalT68
"T" = Tied

See also

Notes and References

  1. Florida Men's Golf 2011 Media Supplement , University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 28, 34, 38, 39, 41 (2010). Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  2. 2008–09 Florida Gators Men's Golf Media Guide , University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 36 (2008). Retrieved July 14, 2011.