As the golf world focuses on Tiger Woods' absence from the Masters, his longtime friend Fred Couples offered a different perspective. Couples revealed he never asks Woods about golf. He focuses only on his family and well-being.

Couples explained to GolfChannel on Monday how he approaches their communication with Tiger, making it clear that his focus stays away from the sport itself.

"People always ask me about Tiger. When I text him, I always ask about his kids and how he's feeling. I don't ask him about his golf game. I don't ask him about Sunday Red. I don't ask him about anything.”

This dynamic has been formed after years of playing together. They've been friends since the 1997 Ryder Cup. Since then, they've become Masters practice-round partners, shared a caddie (Joe LaCava), and become text buddies. Woods even referred to him once as his dad on the Tour.

Perhaps that's why Woods always replies to Couples. "He always replies and I think he likes that."

However, even after knowing Woods for so long, Couples insists there's a reason for not reaching out to Woods after the accident.

In his words, "For me now to get involved with this would not make much sense. Doesn't mean I'm not paying attention, but for me we're completely different people."

Communication between them has reduced over time, with only occasional replies coming through. After the car accident on March 27, a message was sent a few days later, and it was later understood that Woods had left for treatment.

What Fred Couples Had to Say About Tiger Woods' Accident

"I have not been texted him as much, but I still get little replies. After the car accident I texted him a couple three, four days later and that's when I think four days after that or four days after that I found out he was going there [Switzerland]. "

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind for Tiger Woods. First, it was about his return to the TGL and then a subsequent return to the Masters. However, his arrest changed that.

At the same time, Woods pulled out of the Masters, looking to get treatment. He has now touched down in Switzerland.

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Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar