Couples gets back in the swing of things

Published October 24, 2010 4:00am ET



Earlier this month, when Fred Couples shot an opening-round 78 in the Senior Players — his worst round since joining the Champions Tour — he withdrew from the tournament, claiming a back injury.

Judging from his play Sunday in the Administaff Small Business Classic, Couples has recovered. Shooting a 7-under par 29 on the back nine at Woodlands Country Club, Couples left the field in the dust of Texas on his way to a seven-stroke victory. He started the day two strokes behind Corey Pavin.

In his 9-under par final-round 63, Couples had two eagles and seven birdies. Had it not been for a double bogey at No. 8 — a 237-yard par 3 — Couples would have shot 61.

It is Couples’ first win since capturing three straight titles in his second, third and fourth Champions Tour starts in February and March.

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