Couples' putting gives him scoring record

SAN FRANCISCO -- Fred Couples didn't win the Charles Schwab Cup Championship or the Schwab points race on the Champions Tour, but the senior rookie did come away with a notable distinction in 2010.

After a closing four-under 67 Sunday at TPC Harding Park, Couples finished the season with a 67.96 average, shattering the Champions Tour record of 68.59 set by Hale Irwin in 1998 when he won seven tournaments.

How did Couples do it? Besides obliterating the par 5s, Couples' putting was excellent. He arrived at the season-ending event ranked first in putts per green in regulation at 1.685.

-- Bill Fields