Freddie Couples' Next Stop: The Outback

Freddie Couples watched his hopes for a second Masters title roll down the steep bank of the 12th hole Sunday and into Rae's Creek.

Alas, the hole that saved him on his way to the 1992 Masters title, washed away his chances of becoming the oldest player to win the green jacket.

Enough work.

It's time for Couples to get back to fun and games and that's basically what the 2010 Champions tour has been for him.

Couples goes back to the "fun" tour and will make his debut in one of the "fun" tour's most fun-packed events, the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am.

Chris Sullivan and Bob Basham founded Outback Steakhouse back in 1988. Sullivan once said, "we'll probably do about 12 of these and play a lot of golf."

There are now more than 900 Outback Steakhouses in 21 countries. Sullivan and Basham have stepped out of the giant corporate picture at OSI, but still host this party disguised as a golf tournament at the TPC of Tampa Bay.

It follows the Pebble Beach Pro-Am format, each pro has an amateur partner. Whoever gets Couples can count themselves most fortunate.

Couples has dominated the "cart-riding" tour thus far. He's won three of the four events he's played in, finished second to Tom Watson in the other.

To find a favorite in this year's Outback, it easy to look at Couples and Watson. Although last year's event was won by Nick Price, this tournament always garners a great field.

Couples length should serve him well at the TPC and the three-rounds and warm weather is just what his back needs.

Length is a cherished commodity amongst the older set and if Couples plays half as well as he did at Augusta, this week's event should be just a walk in the park.

Or pehaps a stroll in the Outback.