Conditions are of little concern for Couples at Turnberry

The 52-year-old American, who trailed overnight leader Bernhard Langer by one stroke heading into the final round, closed with back-to-back birdies to secure the win.

Couples’s compatriot Gary Hallberg, the 36-hole leader, finished two shots back in second after carding 66 on a windy and testing Ailsa Course.

“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!

“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.”

English duo Barry Lane and Carl Mason ended the tournament tied for third place alongside American Dick Mast, with the trio finishing on four-under.

Langer, however, could only a card a round of 75 yesterday and had to settle for a share of sixth place.

n Home favourite Bernd Wiesberger snatched victory with a superb seven-under-par last round of 65 in the Lyoness Open in Austria.

The 26-year-old from Vienna caught the long-time leader Thorbjorn Olesen with a burst of four birdies in five holes around the turn and then took the lead with two more birdies at the 15th and 16th. He finished with a spectacular 50-foot putt on the final green for a 19-under-par total at Diamond Country Club in Atzenbrugg – only an hour away from his home.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry posted a final-round 66 to share second place with Frenchman Thomas Levet two shots back.

Dane Olesen, who had led since midway through a rain-hit second round, slumped to a 74 to leave him a further two shots adrift in fifth place, one behind Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg.

Victory saw Wiesberger become the second Austrian to win his national open after Markus Brier in 2006. It came just three months after his first European Tour victory at the Ballantine’s Championship.

A jubilant Wiesberger said the victory had made it “the best day of my life so far”.

“It seems like it went my way, especially the last two holes,” he said.

“I had such a great country and such great fans backing me.”

Morley’s Danny Denison finished joint-33rd on four-under after a final round of 73.