KAUPULEHU-KONA: Tom Watson became the 13th oldest player to win on the Champions Tour on Sunday, birdieing the final two holes for one-stroke victory over senior newcomer Fred Couples in the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship.

The 60-year-old Watson, coming off a win with Jack Nicklaus in the Champions Skins at Kaanapali, closed with a 7-under 65 to finish at 22-under 194 for his 13th Champions Tour title and his first victory in 34 career starts in Hawaii on the two tours.

After driving into the right rough, Watson hit a spectacular second shot that rolled 20 feet on the 18th green and stopped 4 feet from the flag.

Couples, who closed with a bogey-free 64, just missed his 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole. Watson calmly sank the winner and waved his cap to the roaring crowd.