Golf commentator and senior player Peter Jacobsen told Sports Headliners that Fred Couples is his favorite to win this weekend’s 3M Championship but also said home state hero Tom Lehman is likely to be among the leaders, too, going into Sunday’s final round.
Jacobsen, who will play in the 3M Championship this weekend at TPC Twin Cities, mentioned Couples, Lehman and Bernhard Langer when asked about players most likely to win the tournament that is part of the Champions Tour for seniors. “Fred Couples is still talented enough to play on the PGA Tour,” Jacobsen said. “I think anytime Fred enters a tournament on the Champions Tour he’s THE favorite.
“Langer is back but he’s coming off an injury. He played the senior British and the (U.S.) Senior Open. I saw him yesterday (Tuesday) and he said he’s feeling pretty good. He’s starting to get back into shape, golf shape.
“The other player who could win anytime he tees it up is Tom Lehman, another player who still competes on the PGA Tour. Hits (the ball) a long ways, makes a lot of birdies.”
Jacobsen said Lehman is one of the top three long drivers on the Champions Tour. Not only does the Alexandria, Minnesota native drive for distance but also accuracy.
“The other thing that makes Tom so formidable is the fact that he makes so many birdies,” Jacobsen said. “He’s an excellent iron player and he’s a great putter. Statistically he’s going to have more chances, probably, than anyone else because he’s so close to the hole so often. I think those two guys, Couples and Lehman, will more than likely be there on Sunday.
“Now Fred has been dealing with a bad back. So as I said earlier, the only thing that can derail Fred Couples is injury, or pain from a bad back.”