Couples wins again after 5 years

Fred Couples outdueled Mark Calcavecchia and held off challenges from Stuart Appleby and Hank Kuehne to win for the first time in five years, shooting a 5-under 67 Sunday to take the Houston Open by four strokes.

The 43-year-old Couples, looking like the golfer who was dominant in the 1990s, led or shared the lead the first three days. He wouldn't let go Sunday, shutting door after shrugging off stumbles midway through his round.

Three consecutive birdies starting at the 14th hole paved the way for his 15th victory overall and first since the Memorial Tournament in 1998.

He finished with a flourish with a birdie on the 18th to finish at 21-under 267, then broke into tears.

Kuehne, Calcavecchia and Appleby, all holding a 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.

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, winless in two years, 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 caught the pond that fronts the green and led to a double-bogey. It was a three-stroke swing as Couples made birdie from 18 feet. 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 par-4 seventh, which became the toughest hole of the week for the golfers, when he pulled his second shot to the right, 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 the turn 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.

At 10, Couples' bogeyed and, when Calcavecchia birdie attempt from less than two feet rimmed off the cup, they were tied again.

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

At the same time, Appleby, a winner here in 1999 at this event 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 a bogey at 10, he birdied four of the next five holes, putting him in front, but the bad drive on No. 16 took him well off the fairway and led to a bogey while Couples and Calcavecchia were making birdie right behind him at 15.

Kuehne, who had a share of the lead after the second round, made the turn at 2-under for the day, birdied Nos. 10 and 12 and then had consecutive birdies at 15, 16 and 17 to hold the lead by one shot. But the 27-year-old from Dallas put his tee shot at the 18th hole into the water. After taking a drop, his next shot soared over the green, leaving him with his only bogey of the day.

With Couples making birdies at Nos. 14, 15 and 16, where his second shot landed a foot from the pin, Calcavecchia fell out of contention for good when his shot at the 17th hole 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.

This year the tournament, sponsored by Shell Oil Co., was moved from The Woodlands complex after a 28-year run to the new sprawling Redstone Golf Club, at 7,508 yards the fourth-longest course on the tour.

Divots: This tournament, first played in 1946 and now the 10th-oldest on the PGA Tour, has been won by six players in their 40s. Players in their 20s have won 22 times. ... Peter Jacobsen, who helped design the course, had a 69, finishing at 276, 12 under par.

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