Couples rekindles days of old to win Shell Houston Open

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2003 Shell Houston Open | Wrap | 28 Apr 2003

Fred Couples rekindled memories of yesteryear with his brilliant and emotional four shot win over Mark Calcavecchia, Stuart Appleby and Hank Kuehne at the Shell Houston Open today.

Couples had not won since the Memorial in 1998 but there were some real signs that the recommitment to the game he had made earlier this year was starting to pay off, with several good finishes this season. Four consecutive top-20 finishes leading into the Masters two weeks ago, clearly indicated that he was once again near his best but I don’t think even he could have hoped for such a convincing and gutsy victory today.

I use the word “gutsy”, as he led for so long and when you have not been in serious contention for some time, is a very difficult thing to do. As he was being interviewed after walking of he 18th green he broke down, no doubt reflecting on the support he has had from his wife and family and Butch Harmon with whom he is now working. It may have also involved a glimpse even further back to when he was embroiled in a very ugly matrimonial split from his first wife Deborah. They had been married ten years when the divorce was finalised in 1993 and eight years later Deborah Couples was dead after jumping from a building in Los Angeles.

Couples remarried in 1998 to Thais Bren and with the new marriage he also took on the role of father to her young family. For several years Fred seemed content to enjoy the closeness of the family relationship and no doubt still does, but that much talent is hard to keep suppressed and his return to a more serious role in professional golf came, to a very large extent, as a result of the urgings of his wife.

One got the feeling that what we witnessed in that post round interview was the release of much pent up emotion along with the great deal of pride that such an exhilarating performance can bring. The golfing world is a much better place with Fred Couples, a genuine contender and the PGA Tour will reap the rewards, as he is one of the most popular of all amongst the fans.

It was a titanic battle over the final round, with Couples one shot ahead of Calcavecchia and Keuhne at the start of the day and Couples carding a double bogey at the 7th hole following on from Calcavecchia’s double at the fourth. The break in the deadlock between the two came at the thirteenth when Calcavecchia, one ahead at that time, carded a bogey. One hole later Couples would start a run of four birdies in the next five holes, which would see him run out a four shot winner. He finished it in style with a ten-foot putt at the last and wandered away almost lost in the moment.

It was also an important finish for Calcavecchia who finished second at Greensboro last year but he had not won since Phoenix in 2001 and so his second place finish will be a major boost to his confidence. Not that these were the only two in the mix towards the end of a fascinating week as Hank Kuehne and Stuart Appleby also had their chances.

Kuehne came into the fourth round, tied one shot behind Couples. He reeled off seven birdies by the time he had reached the par four 18th and at that stage he had a great chance, with another birdie, to apply even more pressure to those behind him. A drive into the water was to bring him undone, however, and the ensuing bogey dropped him back to close in a tie for second alongside Calcavecchia and Appleby, who had at times shared the lead through the final nine holes.

The three players sharing second place each picked up $US336,000, which for Keuhne will mean an unlimited number of sponsors invites between now and the end of the year. Although not a member of the PGA Tour, Keunhe now has $US550,000 to his credit this year and needs only to turn up to have his 2004 card at year’s end.

Appleby found some form that has been missing this year with a share of second place. He had previously finished in the top ten just once, a 6th at the Sony Open and had not finished in the top-20 in eight starts this year.

Geoff Ogilvy followed up a fine third place last week at the MCI Heritage, with a tie for seventh here this week, one of his best follow up finishes for some time. I believe this is a significant milestone for Ogilvy, as it indicates that he is finding the consistency that will lead to greater things for the 25-year-old.

Greg Chalmers was rolling along well but a double bogey-bogey finish proved very costly for him, dropping from a 9th place finish to 21st and costing around $US75,000. John Senden was 44th.

Other finishes of note were those of Jeff Maggert bouncing back from his horrific, yet gutsy, last round at Augusta to finish 6th and John Daly who produced his first top ten in fourteen months, tying with Ogilvy for 7th.

The PGA Tour now heads to New Orleans for the HP Classic of New Orleans.