Langer Wins Duel With Couples At Senior Open
August 1, 2010 at 4:25 PM by AHN · Leave a Comment
Sammamish, WA, United States (AHN) – Fred Couples couldn’t believe the decision he made at the second hole of the final round of the U.S. Senior Open on Sunday.
He had taken the lead in the tournament with a birdie on the opening hole.
At the second, he hit a good drive and was staring at the green on the par-5 hole at the scenic Sahalee Country Club. “I go for that green in two 100 times out of 100,” Couples lamented.
“I laid up. Thought I’d just birdie it with a wedge shot.” What transpired was a shocking turn of events that would set up Bernhard Langer for a slow, steady, calculating march to the title.
“I chunked it. I just chunked it,” is how Couples described his third shot that found the water guarding the green. “Then I hit it long and three-putted,” is how he remembered his triple-bogey eight. Langer made birdie and it was a four-shot swing that determined the outcome.
What happened after that was an incredible display of accuracy and great putting by Langer.
He immediately birdied the third hole, added another at six and shot a 3-under 32 on the front. He then parred Couples to death on the back.
Langer made nine straight to claim his second major title in as many weeks.
Couples made a fight of it somewhat with a birdie at 14 then he holed a 30-foot putt for birdie at the 16th, parred 17 and trailed Langer by two shots on the difficult 18th.
But Couples’ second shot tangled with a tree, and he finished with a bogey for an even-par 70.
Langer’s 67 gave him four sub-70 rounds and an eight-under 272 total. Couples was the runner-up at 275.
John Cook and Olin Browne tied for third at 278.
“He really, really, really played a great round of golf,” Couples said, describing Langer’s unflappable play.
Langer put on a display of shot making and putting that left no doors open for Couples.
“This is extremely special,” said the two-time Masters champion. “This is one of the hardest courses you can play. My ball striking and my mental game held up, the putter worked out great.”
