One of tour’s newest names heavy favorite to take Legends title

Couples heads up Legends

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Fred Couples hasn’t needed much help dominating the Champions Tour, winning three of his first five starts on the 50-and-over circuit.

At the Legends of Golf, Couples can’t win by himself, no matter how sharp his game is right now.

Couples and partner Jay Haas are heavy favorites to take the team title in the event that starts Friday at Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort. Haas won this crown twice in the years it changed from team competition to individual stroke play from 2002-07. The tournament’s original format was restored in 2008.

Couples, who turned 50 in October, has yet to slow down since teeing it up with his old PGA Tour colleagues. He produced 12 straight rounds in the 60s to start the year before an opening-round 71 last week in the rain-shortened Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am, where he wound up 12th.

Couples also had that riveting run at Augusta National, shooting a first-round 66 to become the oldest player to hold the outright lead in the Masters. He eventually finished sixth behind champion Phil Mickelson.