Couples Beats Lietzke In Hope Classic Playoff

Golf

Fred Couples, who has known considerable physical and mental pain over the last four years, is a winner again on the golf course.

Putting aside the pain of an arthritic back and the stress of two recent personal tragedies, Couples beat Bruce Lietzke in a playoff Sunday at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in Bermuda Dunes, Calif. It was his first win in nearly two years.

Couples birdied the 18th hole to catch Lietzke in regulation. He birdied it again 20 minutes later to win on the first playoff hole.

The two had finished 90 holes at 28-under par. Lietzke lost his one-shot lead on the final hole of regulation when he left a 15-foot birdie try high of the cup.

Couples, who had hit his second shot onto the green of the par-5, 513-yard 18th, tapped in for a 4.

Playing No. 18 again, Couples hit his second shot into the gallery behind the green, got a free drop and snuggled a 30-foot chip shot within 3 feet of the cup. Lietzke, facing another critical 15-foot birdie try, once again left his putt high.

Couples knocked in his putt to win for the first time since The Players Championship in 1996. The Hope was his 13th career victory.

Couples shot a closing 6-under-par 66 as he came from three shots behind Lietzke.

Andrew Magee finished third. David Duval and Steve Jones tied for fourth.

Former Pullman resident Kirk Triplett finished eight shots back at 340.

MasterCard Championship

The final round of the MasterCard Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, turned out to be a stroll in the park for Gil Morgan.

The six-time winner on the Senior PGA Tour last year pranced to a six-stroke victory over Hale Irwin and Gibby Gilbert in the $1 million tournament, shooting a course-record-tying 64 in the final round for a 54-hole total of 21-under 195.

Morgan’s score was the secondlowest ever in the tournament in relation to par.

Irwin, who stole the thunder from Morgan in 1997 by winning nine over-50 tournaments, shared second place with Gilbert.

HealthSouth Inaugural

Kelly Robbins completed a birdie-filled weekend with a 6-under-par 66 to win the LPGA HealthSouth Inaugural in Orlando, Fla.

With 15 birdies over the final two rounds at the difficult Grand Cypress Resort course, Robbins overcame a first-round 76 and a four-stroke deficit over the final 18 holes with laser-like approach shots.

Robbins finished at 7-under 209, two strokes ahead of Meg Mallon. Patty Sheehan was third at 212.

Rathdrum’s Tracy Hanson finished 15 shots off the pace with a 224. She took home $1,031.