Couples Angling for Another Postseason Payday

When it comes to the made-for-television events after the end of the PGA Tour season, no one does better than Fred Couples.

The smooth-swinging and soft-talking player has an amazing record. He has won more than $6 million in the postseason, nearly $2 million in the Skins Game alone, including $635,000 last month.

Couples is in position to add another title today at the Diners Club Matches at Pelican Hill, thanks largely to the play of teammate Mark Calcavecchia.

Calcavecchia had three birdies and an eagle in the final five holes he played to lead his team to a 2-and-1 victory over Chris Perry and Skip Kendall.

He began the run at the 13th hole, spurred on by the disappointment of what happened at the par-three 12th, where he and Couples briefly glimpsed a chance to even the match but ended up going 2 down with six holes to play.

Couples had about 12 feet for a birdie, but had to wait for Perry to putt first. Perry made a birdie from about the same distance, then Couples missed his putt, and a chance to halve the hole.

“I was hoping Fred would make his, but it worked out the wrong way for us,” Calcavecchia said. “But I told Fred’s caddie that if we birdied one of the next two holes and got it to 1 down, we would still have a pretty good shot.”

Three holes later, his team was not only back in it but a hole up. The teams halved the par-four 16th but Calcavecchia made an eagle putt from 12 feet on the par-five 17th to close out the match.

The birdie run started when Calcavecchia blasted an L wedge to within two feet for an easy birdie on the 360-yard 13th. He hit an eight iron from 140 yards to within two feet again on the 415-yard 14th.

His putt tied the match, and he made another birdie on the 406-yard 15th for a 1-up lead.

“Calc played very, very well today,” Couples said. “I played decent the first couple of holes then kind of lost it. On the back nine . . . we needed it and he did it and it was kind of fun to watch.”

Couples and Calcavecchia advance to play defending champions Steve Elkington and Jeff Maggert, who beat Steve Pate and Mark Wiebe, 3 and 1.

“For this time of year I can’t complain,” Couples said. “I hit two in the junk as usual. But tomorrow I’ll need to be a little bit better. But Calc’s playing great.”

Elkington and Maggert were 2 up after three holes thanks to an eagle at No. 1 and a birdie on No. 3 by Elkington.

Elkington said he likes playing with the ever-consistent Maggert.

“I pretty much figure he’s going to be down the middle,” Elkington said, “so I went and got a new driver that I can hit a long way. I’ve been pretty much swinging out of my shoes.

“We’re looking forward to playing Fred and Mark. Maybe we can stop Fred from winning every tournament he plays in the off-season.”

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The consolation matches start at 9:40 a.m. today, and the first of the championship matches starts at 10:10 when Juli Inkster and Dottie Pepper take on Karrie Webb and Kelly Robbins in the LPGA final.

Couples and Calcavecchia take on Elkington and Maggert starting at 10:20 a.m. and Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson tee it up against Bruce Fleisher and David Graham in the Senior final at 10:30 a.m.