Couples won the Senior Players Championship at Westchester Country Club on Sunday in Harrison, N.Y., hitting a sand wedge 76 yards to within three feet of the cup on the third playoff hole to beat Cook with a birdie. It was the first senior major victory for Couples, 51, who admitted it was more of a senior moment than a major moment.
“We were like two old men,” the Seattle native said after the playoff.
“Everyone has got nicks and aches and problems,” said Couples, who had been pleased all week that his chronic bad back was better following treatment in Germany six weeks ago. His was concerned that his left hip balked after a two-hour rain delay that stopped play while he, Cook and Peter Senior were on the eighth hole.
“I feel great about winning my first senior major. I just hope tomorrow when I wake up, I feel better than I do now. That’s the emotional part of it because I’ve been doing so well. I don’t really know what I’ll feel like,” Couples said.
Even though the sky darkened during the playoff, Couples said the holes seemed “relaxed” because of his long friendship with Cook.
But the result was anything but relaxing for the runner-up, who has had a successful career, including three senior wins in 2011, but has not won a major in 82 tries on the PGA and Champions tours.
“Boy, it’s disappointing, it really is,” Cook said.
CAROLINIAN WINS
Webb Simpson won the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C., for his first PGA Tour title, finishing with a bogey-free 3-under 67 for a three-stroke victory.
The Raleigh native and former Wake Forest standout had an 18-under 262 total at Sedgefield Country Club.
George McNeill (64) was second, and Tommy Gainey (69) was third at 14 under in the final event before the PGA Tour playoffs.
PETTERSEN RALLIES
Norway’s Suzann Pettersen shot a 7-under 64 to make up a nine-stroke deficit, then beat South Korea’s Na Yeon Choi with a par on the first hole of a playoff to win the LPGA Safeway Classic in suburban Portland.
Choi finished with a 73 to match Pettersen at 6 under on Pumpkin Ridge’s Ghost Creek Course in North Plains, Ore.
With the victory, Pettersen jumped to No. 2 in the world behind Yani Tseng.
AUSSIE WINS
Australia’s James Nitties won the Midwest Classic for his first Nationwide Tour title, shooting with a 6-under 65 for a five-stroke victory in Overland Park, Kan.
Nitties had a 26-under 258 total at Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate. He earned $99,000 to jump from 53rd to 12th on the money list. The top 25 after the season advance to the 2012 PGA Tour.
TRACKING ANDRES GONZALES
Last week: PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship, Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, N.C.
Gonzales’ fourth-round score: 2-over-par 72.
Position: Gonzales (2-under 278) tied for 66th – 16 strokes behind winner Webb Simpson (67 – 262). He won $10,608.
Recap: Everything seemed to be sailing along for the former Capital High player – until he hit the back nine. At 2 under for his round, he hit his drive left at the 10th hole, punched out and made bogey. At No. 11, his drive sailed right. Again, he made bogey. And after his tee shot at the 12th hole, a long par 3, stopped 70 feet short, he three-putted for a third straight bogey.
Next: Gonzales will miss the PGA Tour playoffs. He will return for the “Fall Series,” starting with the Justin Timberlake Shriners event Sept. 29 at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.
Todd Milles, staff writer
