Match (Play) Made in Heaven for Pavin : L.A. Open: He finds an advantage in playing alongside Couples, whom he defeats by two strokes for the title.

The short-hitters of the golf world are packed in Corey Pavin’s corner today.

Fred Couples, one of the game’s longest hitters, had the skinny little former Bruin right where he wanted him going into the last day of the $1-million Nissan Los Angeles Open.

He had a one-stroke lead on his favorite course, where his boisterous fans can be as intimidating as his booming drives.

But Pavin, who may be fudging when he says he weighs 150 pounds, never flinched.

A master of match play strategy, Pavin sliced and diced his way to a three-under 68 at Riviera Country Club and carved up Couples (71) in the process to post a two-stroke victory.

Nobody else was even close.

Pavin’s tournament total of 13-under 271 was six strokes better than third place Chip Beck, who finished with a 68. David Frost was two more strokes behind at 279 after his 67.

Pavin earned $180,000 for his first PGA Tour victory in nearly two years, but he wasn’t concerned about his U.S. record. He pointed out that he won the World Match Play title last year, beating, in order, Peter Baker, Nick Price, Colin Montgomerie and Nick Faldo.

Now he can add a notch on his bag for Fred Couples.

“I guess I am pretty comfortable with match play,” Pavin said.

Although the tournament was medal play, it took on the look of match play from the first hole when each player birdied to further distance themselves from the field.

“I like it better when it’s just you and the player you’re paired with,” Pavin said. “You can put a lot of pressure on the other guy if you can hit your irons close and make some putts.”

Pavin said he learned many years ago that it was useless to try to hit it with the big boys.

“I pretty much knew from the get-go that chipping and putting was going to be the key for my game,” Pavin said. “Oh, there’s a few times that I try to hit it a little harder in certain situations, but I can’t do it too often because then I get away from what I do best.

“I just wish we played some match play events on our tour. That’s the real essence of golf in its purest form.”

Although Davis Love II complained in 1992 that Couples’ galleries bordered on being rude to anybody challenging Couples at Riviera, nothing of the sort had an effect on Pavin.

“I had my following out there, too,” Pavin said. “They aren’t as loud as Freddy’s. They’re more like me--quiet.”

Dressed in Bruin blue and gold, Pavin displayed the type of shot-making on the first hole that makes him such a tough match play competitor. He had reached the front bunker of the 501-yard hole in two, then blasted out to eight feet and made the putt for birdie.

“That was really a big shot for him,” Couples said. “I was in pretty good shape in two and felt like I could birdie the hole and pick up a stroke, but he made his birdie first. It made my (six-foot) putt a tough one.”

Couples made it, the first of his two birdies for the day.

Couples lost his lead when he missed a 2 1/2-foot putt at the second hole, and Pavin took the lead with a 25-foot birdie at the third hole.

“That was a great putt,” Pavin said. “I was trying to lag it close, and it just kept going.”

Neither player made a bogey or birdie over the rest of the front nine, although Couples missed the best chances on a few birdie putts that came up short.

Pavin’s wedge helped him increase his lead to two with a birdie at the 311-yard 10th hole.

“I hit my drive too long and had to hit a pretty good shot just to get 10 feet from the pin,” Couples said. “He dinks a little wedge to about four feet. Just like cake.”

Couples finally pulled even with a two-stroke swing at the 413-yard 12th. It was the only time Pavin appeared a little tense. Couples made his birdie with a six-foot putt, then watched as Pavin missed a four-footer to save par.

The stage was set for a big Couples finish over the last five holes, but his putter let him down.

Couples had a chance to take the lead with a 20-foot putt at the 14th, but lagged it 2 1/2 feet short, then missed that one for a bogey and dropped back by a stroke.

Pavin sensed it was over when he rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt at the 16th hole. He raised both arms as the putt dropped, picked his ball from the cup and watched as Couples missed his 18-foot attempt.

Couples had no chance to reach the 578-yard 17th in two because it was into the wind. But he could have applied some pressure with a birdie.

But, again, it was Pavin applying the pressure with a third shot that landed 12 feet from the hole.

“That was a key shot, because if I don’t get it close, Freddy can relax and try to get his shot in close for his birdie,” Pavin said. “But when I hit it that close, he had to feel the pressure because he knew I had a chance to make mine.”

Couples hit a poor third shot and neither player birdied.

Pavin felt pretty good about a two-stroke lead with one hole to play.

Now, he had Couples where he wanted him.

School was out.

L.A. Open Notes

Peter Jacobsen, playing the final group with the leaders, was amused when somebody suggested he still had a chance to win. “Sure I do,” deadpanned Jacobsen, who is from Portland, Ore. “After all, I know Tonya Harding.” . . . The shot of the day was Jay Delsing’s second at the 418-yard ninth hole. He holed it for an eagle and wound up with a 73.

How They Finished

Final scores for the leaders and selected other players in the Los Angeles Open, played on the 6,946-yard, par-71 Riviera Country Club course.

THE TOP 11

Corey Pavin: 67-64-72-68--271 Fred Couples: 67-67-68-71--273 Chip Beck: 66-71-72-68--277 Brad Faxon: 70-71-68-69--278 David Frost: 67-74-71-67--279 Tom Watson: 69-71-71-69--280 Peter Jacobsen: 69-71-68-72--280 Kirk Triplett: 68-76-69-68--281 Lennie Clements: 68-74-68-71--281 Jay Delsing: 67-72-69-73--281 Craig Stadler: 68-69-71-73--281

OTHERS

Fuzzy Zoeller: 67-73-72-70--282 Mark O’Meara: 69-73-70-71--283 Phil Mickelson: 70-73-73-69--285 Tom Kite: 72-72-71-70--285 Duffy Waldorf: 70-71-74-70--285 Ben Crenshaw: 71-73-72-74--290 Payne Stewart: 70-74-74-75--293