Fred Couples wins The Senior Open Championship
Fred Couples claimed his maiden The Senior Open Championship title, as a three-under par final round of 67 left the American two shots clear of compatriot Gary Hallberg on nine-under par at Turnberry, Ayrshire, Scotland.
The US Presidents Cup team captain entered the final day with one stroke behind the overnight leader Bernhard Langer. Through the front nine, both the players recorded two birdies and two bogeys each and remained at their respective positions.
Couples succeeded to join Langer with a birdie on the 11th hole. Langer miscued his tee shot on the 12th hole, followed by another bad stroke that found a greenside bunker in the end.
He was stuck so badly that he used two strokes to get out of the bunker to 25 feet away from the pin. Thereafter, he two putted for a double bogey to slip down the leaderboard.
Meanwhile, Couples recorded another birdie to get in a commanding lead on his own. Later on, Hallberg also joined him on the top with a birdie on the 17th hole.
However, Couples did not allow Hallberg to enjoy the lead and snatched it back with a birdie on the same hole.
Hallberg then parred the final hole and waited for his partner to finish his round. Couples then finished his final round campaign in style, as he sank a stunning 20-foot birdie to seal the victory.
“That was a big birdie on 17 to make 18 play easier and then when I hit the last putt, the hole got in the way and I won by two,” he said. “I'm very happy and excited to have won this”.
According to him, he was a little under pressure at the beginning of the final round for being paired with Bernhard in the final round. However, Couples took the game out of Bernhard hands with a good display of the game.
“It was a very fun day,” said Couples. “Being paired with Bernhard, you've got to play great and for a long time there, we were neck and neck. But for me I felt like I was hitting the ball very strong, very solid and I was really lucky that it didn't rain
because I'm not very good in the rain”.
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