Memorial Tournament

Forget the young guns. Fred Couples is the hottest golfer on the planet. The former Masters champion continued his best streak in six years when he led throughout the final round on his way to an emphatic four-stroke victory at the Memorial tournament at Dublin, Ohio, yesterday.

After having started the day with a three-shot lead, Couples opened the door briefly with a bogey at the second hole, but re-established a big cushion with birdies at the par-five fifth and seventh holes and was not headed thereafter.

The 1992 Masters champion shot a three-under 69 at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Muirfield Village on a day that started windy before turning stormy, forcing two lightning delays.

Couples finished at 17-under 271 for his fourteenth US Tour victory, his second this year. He collected $396,000 from a total purse of $2.2m.

In his past five starts, Couples has finished equal second (Masters), third (Houston), equal second (Byron Nelson), equal eighteenth (Colonial), and first (Memorial).

''For four rounds I played exceptionally well - as well as I could,'' said Couples. ''With the wind blowing, I thought if I played anywhere near what I am capable of, then I would win.

''To win Jack's tournament on Jack's course means a lot to me.''

Nick Faldo dropped three strokes in the final five holes to shoot 74 and tie for thirty-first at four-under 284. After finding a greenside bunker at the last, the siren sounded to stop play before he could extricate himself. After a 44-minute delay, Faldo returned to bogey the hole.

The highlight of his round was an eagle at the par-five fifth, where he hit a No.2-iron with a ''deliberate banana slice'' to four feet.

Edward Fryatt (73), who tied for thirty-eighth place at three-under 285, dreams of playing for Europe in the Ryder Cup.

Although Rochdale-born, Fryatt has lived in the USA for more than two decades and speaks with an American accent, but he retains British citizenship.

Fryatt is the son of a former professional footballer who plied his trade with Charlton and Blackburn Rovers before joining Philadelphia in the old North American Soccer League in 1974.

The Fryatts subsequently moved to Las Vegas, where Edward still lives, even though he is a true globetrotter who plays mostly in Asia.

''I'm not anti-American, but the Ryder Cup would be a chance to play in a part of history,'' Fryatt said.

There is no doubt Fryatt has some game, but to realise his Ryder Cup dream he knows he has to earn a card for either the European or US Tour.

''I'd like to get my card anywhere except Asia,'' he said. ''I'm not knocking Asia, but by the same token I'd rather be playing over here. All I can do is concentrate on playing well.''

Fryatt missed the cut at last week's Volvo PGA Championship during a rare European Tour appearance, before flying back across the Atlantic to play at Muirfield Village.

In some respects he was lucky to get into the tournament. The leading Asian Tour money-winner is invited, but Frankie Minoza, who topped last year's money list, declined the invitation.

At the last minute it was offered to Fryatt, who was runner-up on the Asian Tour order of merit last year.

Fryatt next week will try to qualify for the US Open and he plans to pre-qualify for next month's Open Championship, as well. Final leading aggregates (USA unless stated):

271 - F Couples 68, 67, 67, 69.

275 - A Magee 67, 71, 68, 69.

276 - D Duval 74, 66, 67, 69.

277 - J Furyk 74, 68, 67, 68.

278 - B Chamblee 71, 72, 66, 69; D Love 66, 73, 66, 73.

279 - M Calcavecchia 68, 69, 72, 70; T Herron 72, 72, 67, 68; T Tryba 67, 71, 68, 73; E Els (S Africa) 67, 72, 67, 73.

Others included: 280 - J Parnevik (Sweden) 73, 71, 66, 70; T Lehman 68, 70, 70, 72. 281 - F Nobilo (New Zealand) 71, 72, 69, 69; J Leonard 69, 70, 71, 71. 284 - N Faldo (England) 71, 70, 69, 74. 285 - E Fryatt (England) 73, 70, 69, 73. 288 - T Woods 70, 74, 71, 73. 290 - G Hjertstedt (Sweden) 69, 75, 70, 76.