Tom Watson-Fred Couples: An Instant Classic

You wanted great golf action?

You got it Sunday at Hualalai in final round the first Champions Tour event of the season.

It was an instant classic, a cool duel. It was the 60-year-old Tom Watson head to head with the rookie, Freddie Couples.

"I was giving up 10 years and 50 yards," is how Watson put it best, laying out the tough task he faced on Sunday in a perfect place, in a perfect climate.

The golf was perfect as well.

Couples, the America's laid-back good guy and Watson, who broke our hearts at the Open Championship last summer, put on a display.

In the end, Watson shot 65, Couples 64.

Watson was 22-under for 54 holes, Couples 21. "I was 21-under par and didn't win a tournament. That hasn't happened to me too many times," Freddie mused shortly after Watson made a remarkable birdie to win on the 72nd hole.

You see, these guys went back and forth on the final nine holes. No one backed off. They had eliminated the rest of the field and it was simply two great players, Watson and Couples in a gentlemanly dogfight made for compelling television.

Most probably missed it because some guys named Brett Farve and Drew Brees were in the midst of their own cool duel.

But just when the announcers gave the nod and advantage to Couples on the final hole, old man Watson nailed 'em.

Couples was in the fairway, way past Watson's drive in the rough.

Then it happened.

From 147, old man Watson hit this sizzling wedge that found the green, it hit 50 feet from the hole, released and rolled and rolled and rolled until it stopped four feet from the cup.

Couples was about 12-feet but it didn't matter. You knew what would happen.

Couples missed, Watson hit a lazy, dying effort that found the cup and the championship.

It was that good.

And just another afternoon that proved golf is far from dead, even if what's-his-name is in rehab.