Couples holds on to halt drought

By Associated Press,
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 28, 2003

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HUMBLE, Texas - Fred Couples was overwhelmed and nearly speechless after capping his first victory in five years with birdie on the final hole of the PGA's Houston Open.

"I mumbled a few things then basically wanted to get ... out of there," Couples said after breaking into tears on the 18th green after Sunday's four-stroke victory. "I needed to regroup a little bit.

"It's different. I haven't won in five years. I haven't played really well in five years."

He had at least a share of the lead for all four rounds of the PGA tournament close to the University of Houston campus, where he played.

He shot 5-under 67 to finish at 21-under 267 as he outdueled Mark Calcavecchia and held off challenges from Stuart Appleby and Hank Kuehne to break a winless string of 87 events dating to the 1998 Memorial.

"I feel honored to win again," the 43-year-old Couples said. "I played a very, very good round of golf."

After stumbling midway through his round, including double bogey in the water at No. 7, he shut the door with four birdies on the final six holes, including three in a row starting at the 14th. At the par-4 474-yard 16th hole, he left his second shot a foot from the pin, using the same 6-iron that failed him at No. 7.

"I didn't know how close I was," Couples said. "The people were going crazy."

It was "the shot of the day," he said.

Kuehne, Calcavecchia and Appleby, all holding at least a share of the lead after the turn, tied for second at 271. Jeff Maggert finished at 273, getting eagle on the first hole and tying the course record with 8-under 64.

Kuehne and Calcavecchia were doomed after finding the water late in their rounds, and Appleby's bid was derailed by bogey at the 16th hole after an errant tee shot.

Calcavecchia took the lead on the 12th hole, two-putting for birdie while Couples made par, then gave it back with bogey on 13.

At the same time, Appleby, who won the event in 1999 when it was played at the TPC at the Woodlands, and Kuehne, the 1998 U.S. Amateur champion, were making moves.

Appleby started the day two shots behind Couples but stayed close, making the turn at 1 under. After bogey at 10, he birdied four of the next five holes, putting him in front. But a bad drive on No. 16 took him well off the fairway and led to bogey while Couples and Calcavecchia made birdies at 15.

Kuehne, who had a share of the lead after the second round, made the turn at 2 under for the day. He birdied Nos. 10 and 12 then had birdies at 15, 16 and 17 to hold the lead by one shot. But he put his tee shot at 18 into the water. After taking a drop, his next shot soared over the green, leaving him with his only bogey of the day.

"I just hit a bad shot," he said.

Calcavecchia fell out of contention when his shot at 17 stopped at the edge of the water and he waded in knee-deep to avoid a penalty drop. When his par attempt hung on the lip of the cup for bogey, Couples was home-free.

"That's the best I've ever seen Fred play," said Calcavecchia, trying to end his own two-year winless streak. "I will take out of this week that I know I am going to win again eventually."

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