Couples' win is first in five years

HUMBLE, Texas -- Fred Couples was overwhelmed and nearly speechless after capping his first victory in five years with a birdie on the final hole of the 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 following Sunday's four-stroke win. "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 tournament close to the University of Houston campus, where he played in college.

His 5-under 67 Sunday left him at 21-under 267 as he outdueled playing partner Mark Calcavecchia and held off challenges from Stuart Appleby and Hank Kuehne to break a winless string of 87 events going back to the 1998 Memorial Tournament.

"I feel honored to win again," the 43-year-old Couples said, after looking like the golfer who was dominant in the 1990s. "I played a very, very good round of golf."

After stumbling midway through his round Sunday, including a double-bogey in the water at No. 7, he shut the door with four birdies on the final six holes, including three straight 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 had 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, followed by Jay Haas at 272 and Jeff Maggert at 273. Maggert eagled the first hole and then went on to tie the course record with an 8-under 64.

"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."

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

Couples led by one over Calcavecchia heading into Sunday's final round and started with a birdie at No. 1.

Calcavecchia started fast, opening with a pair of birdies. His second shot at the par-4 427-yard second hole landed less than 3 feet from the pin. That put him back in a tie with Couples.

But on No. 4, a 401-yard par 4, Calcavecchia's second shot landed in the pond that fronts the green and led to a double-bogey. It was a three-stroke swing as Couples made an 18-foot birdie. Calcavecchia then made up a stroke with a 21-foot birdie putt on No. 5.

Couples returned the favor, going into the water for the second straight day at the seventh, which became the toughest hole of the week for the golfers, leaving him and Calcavecchia tied at 16-under.

Given the opening, Calcavecchia's drive at the par-3 eighth hole landed 2 1/2 feet from the cup, leaving him an easy birdie attempt while Couples was 61 feet away. But Couples rolled in a perfect putt, throwing his putter into the air and doffing his visor as the huge crowd following the pair roared. Then Couples took the lead at 18-under with an 11-foot putt on No. 9 while Calcavecchia's 2-footer slipped by the side of the hole for par.

Chick-fil-A Charity

STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. -- Se Ri Pak defeated Shani Waugh on the fourth playoff hole to win the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship, the South Korean's second victory of the year and 20th of her career.

Pak sank an 18-foot putt to save par at No. 10 after Waugh, trying to win for the first time in her career, yanked her tee shot into the lake bordering the left side of the fairway at Eagles Landing Country Club south of Atlanta.

Pak got to the playoff with an 8-under 64 in regulation. Waugh nearly matched Pak with a 65 that left both players with a 16-under 200.

Legends of Golf

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Bruce Lietzke made par on the last 10 holes to win the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf for his first Champions Tour victory of the season.

Lietzke had a round of 1-under-par 71, finishing at 10-under 206, one stroke ahead of Dana Quigley (71) and David Eger (67).

-- From wire reports