Late-Entry Couples Closes With 66 to Win by Four Shots, Earn $525,000

About a month ago, Fred Couples picked up a special invitation to the new World Championship Tournament here, and, as a result, won $525,000 Sunday.

“I hadn’t qualified and I wasn’t even thinking about it,” Couples said after his four-stroke victory over Bernhard Langer. “And then I got the invitation . . . it’s an incredible feeling.”

Most of the players in the field won their way into the tournament from qualifying tournaments around the world. A few won more than one of those qualifying tournaments, so five special invitations were issued late in the year, one going to Couples.

Couples got away to a quick start when he made an eagle by hitting a three-iron second shot 215 yards to within three feet of the flag on the par-five fifth hole. He was on his way to a five-under 66 that left the rest of the field behind. Langer had a 71 and won $295,000.