In the final round, Fred was one over par through 16 holes, but played his last two holes magnificently as asiantour.com reports.

“Former Masters winner Fred Couples gave his legion of supporters plenty to cheer about with an outstanding finish of birdie and eagle over his closing two holes for a 70 and finished joint 12th.”

“Couples drained a 40-foot birdie putt on the 17th and nailed a 25-footer for eagle on the 18th and ended the week nine shots behind the winner. “It’s been a fun week. But it was a bit too erratic this week for me to have really challenged. It was tough out there with the heat and wind but I’ve had a good time. I enjoyed playing golf in Asia for the past two weeks,” said the American, who was tied second in Korea last Sunday.”

Fred will now fly back to the United States, where he should rest for a couple of weeks. Couples’ next tournament will most probably be the Memorial Tournament, in early June.

From asiantour.com

“While the Lu brothers were relishing a special occasion in the Asian Tour event, the tournament’s drawcard Fred Couples endured a tumultuous day. The former US Masters champion signed for a disappointing 72, which included seven birdies, four bogeys and a quadruple bogey eight and was a massive eight shots back in tied 24th position.”

“Couples was rueing two errant drives on the 13th and 16th holes, the latter which saw him scribble a dreaded “snowman”, a reference to the number “eight”. The smooth-swinging American lost a ball from off the 16th tee with blocked drive and finished up with a three-putt. “It’s like high school. I don’t know when was the last time I made an eight,” said the 15-time winner on the US PGA Tour. “It was hot and sweaty. I don’t wear gloves, so I was struggling a little bit which should not be an excuse. It’s disappointing. I can’t do any stupid stuff at the weekend. I know I can shoot six or seven birdies but would need to avoid the blunders.”

“The sweet-swinging Couples, second at the SK Telecom Open in Korea last week, stayed within striking reach of the leaders, shooting five birdies against two dropped shots. “It was a good 68. I missed some chances out there but then again, I saved a few. Looking at the scores, I’m pleased to be three back on the first day. It was getting sweaty on our back nine and I misjudged my approach on 13 and shot past the green for bogey. Made another bogey on 16 but it was good to birdie the last after two good shots to the back of the green. I can’t shoot even par at any time here and expect to be challenging,” said the American, a 15-time winner on the US PGA Tour.”