Couples Doesn’t Let Victory Slip Away : Golf: He wins L.A. Open by three shots, buries reputation as an underachiever.

Some wonder why Fred Couples’ considerable skill doesn’t result in more tour victories.

But if he has any critics, they were quiet Sunday as Couples had three birdies on the back nine after a shaky start to win the $1-million Nissan Los Angeles Open at the Riviera Country Club.

Couples shot a two-under-par 69 for a 72-hole total of 266, 18 under, to beat Gil Morgan by three shots.

Rocco Mediate and Peter Jacobsen, each at 270, tied for third on another day of ideal weather at Riviera.

The 30-year-old Couples’ first tour victory since 1987 was worth $180,000.

And he finished with a flourish as he did Saturday, with a birdie on the 18th hole when he shot a course record-equaling 62.

Couples had a two-stroke lead going to the 18th and he didn’t falter. He hit a seven-iron 15 feet above the hole and, after Morgan and Mediate missed birdie putts, he sank his for a birdie.

“I’m glad it’s over,” Couples said. “It was very exciting. I felt like I played well all day. I didn’t look good on a few shots and I felt a little edgy, which is understandable.

“I didn’t get a whole lot going early, but I had a nice turnaround with a six- to eight-footer for a par at the 10th hole.

“I’m thrilled to death to win and I hope I don’t have to wait another 2 1/2 years to win again.”

When Couples scrambled to get his par at No. 10, he was still one stroke behind Morgan, a two-time L.A. Open winner, who had played steadily while barely missing some birdie putts.

The real turnaround came at the par-five, 561-yard 11th hole. Morgan had not made a bogey in the tournament up to that point.

Then, he missed a 1 1/2-foot par putt, the ball spinning out of the cup. Couples got a birdie with an eight-foot putt to regain the lead that he had relinquished on the ninth hole.

Morgan faltered again on the 13th hole when his tee shot hit a tree and went out of bounds. He wound up with a double bogey after getting a birdie at the 12th hole to momentarily tie Couples.

“He got a bad break,” Couples said. “He pulled it and it caught the tree on the left side and went 30 yards across the rough, out of bounds.”

Mediate, trying for his first tour victory, was only one stroke behind Couples before getting a bogey at the 15th. He pulled his drive and his second shot hit a tree.

So Couples pulled away, getting a birdie at the par-three, 168-yard 17th with a 10-foot putt and then a birdie on No. 18 when he could have won with a bogey. Couples has the reputation failing to win when in contention. Some say he has mental lapses.

The Riviera victory was only his fourth on the tour in 10 years, even though he has been high on the money winning list in recent years.

“I felt like if I was going to win one, this would be it,” Couples said. “Even in the pro-am I played spectacularly and I’m not saying I played like Ben Hogan. But off the tee I hit the ball solid and straight for all four days.

“Whether I can win again, I feel like I can. Today was a big help. If I hadn’t won today, I think it would have have been tough on me with everyone saying, ‘You did it again, you did it again.’

“Every time I get near the lead something happens. This time I hit the ball better than I usually do.”

Couples said that his wife, Debra, was cheering him on while watching TV along with some friends at his home at the Palm Beach Polo Club in Florida.

“They were all whooping and hollering and I’ll be there tomorrow,” Couples said. “She wanted to come out but I thought it would be a rough day for her to fly in and get all excited. . . . Now I wish she was here.”

Morgan, who had a 70, didn’t come to the interview room, heading instead for the Centinela Fitness trailer.

Mediate said he wasn’t disappointed by his showing.

“It’s the best I’ve ever played and 14 under is the best I’ve ever scored,” said the 27-year-old pro from from Greensburg, Pa.

Mediate finished with a 71, citing a mistake at the 15th hole as one he couldn’t afford to make.

“This is the most fun I’ve had anywhere, anytime,” said Mediate, who was in the final group in the recent Pebble Beach tournament only to drop from contention with a 77.

Jacobsen, playing ahead of the leaders, had a five-under-par 66 to tie Mediate for third place. They each earned $58,000 while Morgan got $108,000 for his runner-up finish.

Tom Kite, the PGA player of the year in 1989, and Hal Sutton tied for fifth at 271. As for Couples, he simply seemed relieved. He had nine top 10 finishes in 1989 and now he has first place all to himself.

“I’m used to playing near the lead, but I’m not used to winning, and that’s the bottom line. It’s hard to win and I just think I was fortunate.

“I didn’t do anything on the front nine ( 36 with two bogeys and a birdie), but I felt I hit the ball very well and was three under.”

Even in victory, he was reminded of his showing in last year’s Ryder Cup, when he lost both of his matches. “That was more nerve-wracking than today by far,” Couples said. “I learned more from that than from other tournaments I’ve lost here.

“As for the label of not being a winner, I don’t consider myself a loser. “

Nobody else does, either, after Sunday.

Golf Notes

Sunday’s attendance was 51,650, a record for the final day. The four-day total was also a record, 130,300. . . . Mark Calcavecchia, the defending champion, and Tom Kite each had the low round of the day, 65.

RECENT WINNERS

Player Year Mark Calcavecchia 1989 Chip Beck 1988 T.C. Chen 1987 Doug Tewell 1986 Lanny Wadkins 1985 David Edwards 1984 Gil Morgan 1983 Tom Watson 1982 Johnny Miller 1981 Tom Watson 1980