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 Rather than falling apart after a series of poor shots, Fred Couples kept his cool and holed a 61-foot putt to key his surprise win in Houston
By Gerald McCullagh
Many players would have self-destructed had they been in Fred Couples's predicament midway through the final round of the Houston Open. At the par-4 7th hole, Couples rinsed a six-iron shot on his way to a double bogey which dropped him back into a tie for the lead with his playing partner, Mark Calcavecchia. On the par-3 8th, Couples pushed a six-iron, leaving him with a twisty, undulating 61-foot birdie putt. Meanwhile Calcavecchia stiffed his tee shot. Couples looked like he'd fall at least a stroke behind, and maybe more, as a three-putt was a real possibility. Couples, though, has always had the ability to remain serene in the face of adversity, so instead of rushing his long putt, he walked around the green and methodically studied the break and the speed, and then slowly went through his preshot routine. When the putt rolled in for a shocking deuce, Couples tossed his putter across the green and pantomimed doing the same with his visor (above). Although Calcavecchia made his two-footer to keep pace, he was clearly rattled, and he hit several wayward shots over the ensuing holes to stumble home with an even-par 37 on the back. Energized by his bomb, Couples birdied the 9th hole to take the lead, and he held on down the stretch, thanks to more superlative work on the greens.
Gerald McCullagh, 52, teaches at Rush Creek Golf Club in Maple Grove, Minn., and is one of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers. Issue date: May 5, 2003
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Courtesy of CBS
