Golf Update: Fred Couples seized the 4th title at the Champions tour
Three day session of Administaff Small Business Classic ended on Sunday at the Woodlands Country Club. Fred Couples bypassed Corey Pavin and surged to lead to win the prize money $255000.
Fred Couples is in his debut season at the Champions tour and he’s already a four-time winner. The increasing age has been a blessing for the player as he has earned $2,271,895 in the debut year, which by no comparison was not the earning when he became
a professional at the PGA tour. In just one year, he became a sensation by winning four titles; The ACE Group Classic, Toshiba Classic, The Cap Cana Championship and Administaff Small Business Classic.
The American stepped into October with a second place finish in the Ensure Classic, but in the middle he lost his triumph. However, once again the 51-year-old pulled over his superman costume and smashed 9-under 63 to seize the title.
The veteran teed off from the front nine to pick two birdies in the opening holes. Later arrived a long gap of three holes, which gave an impression that the player won’t be able to match the starting season’s victories. Just then, Fred lifted his sand wedge
and shot a beautiful eagle at the par-5, 6th to draft a score of 12-under. However, he could not comprehend the next hole, which was relatively shorter and gave away the two stroke edge to a double-bogey.
The four-time winner did not let the double bogey hamper his morale; therefore, to set it off, Fred Couples created a fabulous drama in the back nine. He birdied the first two holes to regain the edge and then he smashed the second eagle of the day to rise
closer to the victory. In the last five holes, Fred picked up three more birdies to wrap the round with a victory. By the end of the round, the veteran stood at a score of 17-under-par.
Fred Couples was amazed at his putting, but at the same time, he was confident that he putted well. Speaking to the press, Couples said,
"I don't know if I ever putted like that on the regular PGA Tour, ever. I used to putt well and once you hit your mid-40s, every putt is important."
He was chased by Mark Wiebe (71) at the second spot, Dan Forsman (66), Brad Bryant (66) at the third, John Cook (67) and Corey Pavin (74) at fifth. The United States Ryder Cup striker was the surgical leader in the first round, but he lost his pace by the
last and posted a 74 to earn $74,800 worth of prize money. Unlike Couples, Pavin could not handle the last round pressure as he was on a long break of 12 weeks owing to the Ryder Cup responsibilities; despite he made a good comeback. Pavin did not win, but
he had regards for Couples who played extraordinary well.
Pavin said, "Fred played great, it was a pretty amazing nine holes. It was tough to keep up with him. I wasn't playing well anyway. I was out in front of the ball today. I struggled all day and it never turned around. ... Things weren't clicking. I’ll
try again next week. I haven't played much golf lately, only the second event since Oregon. I hope to compete in the next two weeks. It would be nice to get a win."
Further below was Bernhard Langer, who took the 13th place with the help of six birdies, one eagle and two bogeys.
This is it for the Administaff Small Business Classic, which was a Champion tour event staged at Woodlands Country Club. Fred Couples once again seized the title, but he won’t be teeing off at the AT&T Championship in San Antonio, owing to his physical conditions.
Fred is 51-years of age and it is extremely challenging for him to fight the side effects of age and long pars of golf courses.
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