He has expressed interest in being the Ryder Cup captain, although any hope probably ended in December when he said, "I can promise you, there's 12 guys who don't want to do 75 percent of the stuff there. If you're a great captain, you should tell everyone you're not going to do 75 percent of the stuff."
The Presidents Cup is far more relaxed, and Couples jokingly suggested he would pick Michael Jordan and Robin Williams as assistants, one to tell stories of greatness, the other to tell jokes.
"The Presidents Cup is a treat to play in, and it will be doubly to captain this thing," Couples said. "As close as I am to these guys, I feel like I'll have fun with all of them, whether they're 50th in the rankings or first."
Norman has played two of the last three weeks on the PGA Tour, but is too consumed with his business and his engagement to tennis star Chris Evert to play much tournament golf.
Couples said he planned to play a full schedule each of the next two years, and noted he would be eligible for the Champions Tour right after the Presidents Cup ends.
"Not in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen," Couples said.
Many thought Norman would be captain in 2011, when the Presidents Cup goes to Australia. Norman said he would like to be considered for that, too.
"But under the circumstances, I thought the priority for me right now was to get into the captain's seat, do the best job I could possibly do for the next less than two years now, and basically pull the team through for 2009," he said.
