Fred Couples completed a dream two-shot victory at the Senior Open Championship after closing with a three-under 67.
Couples: Second senior major victory.
The American trailed overnight leader Bernhard Langer by one shot coming into the final round, but while Langer endured a forgettable 75 to finish in a tie for sixth, Couples saved some of his best golf for last to steal the show and the trophy.
Couples finished on nine under, while Gary Hallberg finished two shots back in second after a 66. Carl Mason (66) and Dick Mast (67) shared third place a further three shots back, while Langer joined a four-man group in sixth place on two under.
Tied for the lead with two holes left to play at Turnberry, Couples made back-to-back birdies on the final two holes to seal the win and claim his second senior major, becoming the sixth player to win The Senior Open in his first appearance.
"It was a very fun day," said Couples. "Being paired with Bernhard, you've got to play great and for a long time there, we were neck and neck.
"But for me I felt like I was hitting the ball very strong, very solid and I was really lucky that it didn't rain because I'm not very good in the rain! I don't wear a golf glove; I had two gloves in the bag that were all weather gloves and I was scared to death to ever put those on.
"That was a big birdie on 17 to make 18 play easier and then when I hit the last putt, the hole got in the way and I won by two. I'm very happy and excited to have won this."
Couples came close to winning the Open Championship on several occasions and said this was certainly the next best thing.
"It's the next best thing for all of us," he added. "Obviously I never won The Open. I came close. We have talked about that a little bit, but last night I really thought the golf course. I knew I needed to play it well, and this is my biggest Senior Tour win, by far. I did win the TPC but this is much bigger than that on a truly great, great golf course.
"So I can say I won a Senior Open at Turnberry. I think the best thing about the whole week was playing this course. It's a challenging, very tough course, under extreme weather. It's nice to win any event, but there've been a lot of great champions on this thing, that's for sure."
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