Fred Couples earns second consecutive Champions Tour victory

Just as Fred Couples walked onto the 18th green to collect his $255,000 winner’s check, a fan shouted a pleasantry at him.

“Welcome to the other side of 50,” the man screamed.

Couples just laughed to himself. He can be happy on the 50-and-older Champions Tour. He has played three times on the tour, and Sunday he won for the second consecutive time, this victory coming in the Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach Country Club.

With a large gallery following him, Couples used an 18-under-par 195 (66-64-65) to collect the win. Ronnie Black was the runner-up, four shots back, and Tom Lehman and Chien Soon Lu tied for third, six shots behind the winner.

Couples was one stroke from tying the tournament record, set by his friend, Jay Haas, in 2007.

With the victory Couples put himself in rare company on the Champions Tour, matching starts that greats Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player had.

With his run on this tour, he might be gaining confidence for when he plays on the PGA Tour, competing in the Houston Open and the Masters at Augusta, where he became champion in 1992.

“Am I anxious?” Couples said of returning to the PGA Tour with a boost of confidence. “No. I’m never anxious about the PGA Tour. I’m a Champions Tour player, I really am …. I don’t think they’re too worried about me because I’m winning on the Champions Tour.”

The golfers on this tour are definitely aware of Couples. He’s become the man to beat whenever he enters an event.

He said he’ll play the next stop, the Cap Cana Championship in the Dominican Republic two weeks from now.

Based on the way he’s playing, he’s projected to be the favorite. On this tour, he’s No. 1 in driving distance (298.7 yards) and also ranks at the top with a 56-under score through nine rounds. He’s always shot in the 60s.

Black, as well as Tom Watson, made a push up the leaderboard during the final round, but Couples’ win never really seemed in doubt. Watson shot a nine-under 62 to tie the tournament’s record for a final-round score. He finished seven shots off the lead.

Couples said he lived in Newport Beach for about six years in the 1980s. He sure made himself at home during the weekend.

Couples’ front nine on Sunday wasn’t special, but it didn’t matter much because he never made any big mistakes.

On the par-three, 203-yard eighth hole, Couples hit a sand shot to the front of the cup and then tapped it in for an impressive par.

He gained momentum on the back nine, with four birdies and an eagle on No. 15 that seemed to seal his win.

Even when Couples wasn’t at his best, he made it look easy.

That could be seen during his play on the final hole. His approach shot on the par-five, 510-yard 18th went way right, hitting the roof of the grandstands surrounding the hole. But he still chipped it to within 20 feet.

So just what type of weekend was it for Couples?

He sank the birdie putt.

“It was a lot of fun,” Couples said. “I thought it was not easy out there, but once on a course particularly like this, once you get going, you feel like you can birdie a few holes.”