European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 14, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Couples uses grass break to win by 2 masters by Bob Green Augusta a. A Fred couples won the masters and reached the Heights of world Golf by the margin of two strokes and a couple of Blades of grass. He could have spared one of the former but almost certainly could not have gotten away with any fewer of the latter. Couples acknowledged that were it not for those sprigs a few inches above the water of Raes Creek the outcome could have been different. A the biggest break of my life a couples said sunday after he saved Par from a precarious position on the water guarded 12th Hole at Augusta National and went on to the Victory that confirmed his position As the outstanding player in the world. The Triumph by far the most important of couples career broke a string of four consecutive european victories in this most american of All tournaments and made him the first Homegrown Winner since Larry Mize a playoff pitch in Back in 1987. It capped couples Streak that began last june and has produced six worldwide titles $2.66 million in earnings and finishes of sixth or better in 20 of 25 starts. The Only Downside was that it came at the expense of Ray Floyd couples Mentor Friend and Ryder cup teammate. Floyd who finished second was waiting for couples when he marched up the 18th Fairway with the Victory in his pocket and a half embarrassed smile on his face. And Floyd was the first Man to reach him after he holed out for a round of 70, embracing him with a Bear hug and walking with him off the Green his Arm Flung Over couples shoulder. A if i  win in a very very Happy for Freddie a Floyd said. A it came at my expense a but i predicted it. In be said he had Only one More plateau to  couples an easy going Laid Back 32-year-old with the easiest of swings won his first masters with a 275 total 13 under Par. The ninth american Victory of his career and third of the season was Worth $270,000 and pushed his official 1992 earnings to $1,008,162, the most Ever this Early in the year. Floyd at 49 attempting to become the oldest Man Ever to win one of golfs big four had to Settle for second at 71-277. Corey Pavin Rode a last nine Rush to third at 67-278 and was followed by Mark of Meara and Jeff Sluman at 280, giving the stars and stripes april 14,1992 Page 28see Page 21 for More on masters americans the first five spots. Of Meara shot 70 and Sluman 71. The whole tournament turned on couples tee shot on the Par-3 12th, where so Many masters Over so Many years have been lost and where couples thought he too had fallen victim to the water. A i was As nervous As in be Ever been in my life a he said. A i was thinking if i could just get by this Hole i could go on and win  but the usually phlegmatic couples ducked his head and mumbled to himself while his 8-Iron shot soared. He looked up to see his Ball plunge into the High grass on the Steep Bank Between the Green and the Creek. It rolled Down the Bank about a Yard a then was stopped by the grass. A a it a a Miracle it stayed up a couples said. And he took full advantage of the gift. Couples saved from a double bogey when the Ball stayed dry lobbed it Over the Bank within tap in distance for the Par that saved his Lead. An 8-foot Birdie putt on the 14th expanded his margin and a 5-foot Par Saver on the 17th sealed the Victory and destroyed any Hopes his challengers May have had. The indomitable Floyd trying to add a second Green jacket and a fifth major championship to his Hall of Fame record was the principal victim. The galleries began to Rise for Floyd As he went into amen Comer the 11th, 12th and 13th holes. He received standing ovations after his Chip in Birdie on the 14th and his two putt Birdie on the Ian Woosnam helps new masters Champion Fred couples on with a the  15th, and on every Green thereafter. But he simply could not match Cou Klesz controlled March Over the final nine Oles could not overcome the two stroke deficit and saw his chances evaporate As the holes ran out. A a he a a great person a couples said of the Man the helped instill the Confidence he needed to reach his new stature. A the knows How hard in be been trying. The last thing he wanted to see was me go bogey bogey and go into a  the australian threat that seemed so formidable when Craig Parry took the third round Lead failed to materialize. Parry actually had a three stroke Lead after two holes but fell victim to three putt bogeys on the next three and Wasny to really in it again. Greg Norman and Ian Baker Finch the current British open Champ led the australians at 281. They were tied for sixth at that figure with Nick Price of Zimbabwe and americans Steve Pate Mize Nolan Henke and Ted Schulz. Pate had a closing 67, nor inside sports Sabatini defeats Graf again a Page 22 Sullivan grabs win at Long Beach a Page 22 blazers Clinch Pacific division title a Page 25 stars claim playoff berth a Page 25 St. Johns Carnesecca retires a Page 27 n and Mize 68, Henke 70, Schulz 72, Price 73 and Baker Finch 74. John Daly the Long hitting pea Champion who became a gallery favorite powered his Way to a 68 and was at 283. He was tied with defending Champion Ian Woosnam of Wales who snot 75.Young s no hitter left in Purgatory by Chuck Melvin Cleveland a baseball wont let Matt Young Call it an official no hitter so he created his own word for it  the Boston left hander pitched a Complete game and tossed eight no hit innings sunday but he lost the game a and official credit for a no hitter a As Clevelan beat the red sox 2-1 in the first game of a doubleheader. In the second game Roger Clemens rebounded from last weeks injury to his right hand and pitched a two hitter blanking the indians 3-0. He struck out 12 and improved to 16-2 against Cleveland. Cleveland s two hits in a doubleheader set a Moor league record breaking the old Mark of three set four times most recently when the California Angels were held to three hits by Cleveland in a 1969  Page 26 for other major league games a committee headed by the commissioner changed the rules on qualifications for a no hitter last season requiring a Pitcher to go at least nine innings. Because Cleveland was the Home team and ahead it did not have to Bat in the Bottom of the ninth and Young was dented his official no hitter. A a it a irrelevant because we lost the game a Young said. A a no hitters supposed to be where you strike out the last Guy and the Catcher comes out and jumps in your arms. A loss is a  the last Boston Pitcher to toss a no hitter was Dave Morehead on sept. 16,1965, against Cleveland. The Complete game was the first for Young since a 21 loss to the White sox while pitching for Seattle on sept. 23,1990. Cleveland scored single runs in the first and third innings. Kenny Lofton led off the first with a walk stole second and third and scored when shortstop Luis Rivera threw wildly to first on Carlos Baergas grounder. Young then walked Mark Lewis and Lofton starting the third inning and Lewis took third on Glenallen Hills Force out and scored on Baergas grounder to Short. Charles Nagy 1-1 limited Boston to one tainted run while striking out a career High 10 in seven innings. Brad Amsberg pitched one inning and Derek Lilliquist pitch the ninth for the save. In the Nightcap Clemens 1-1 was considerably sharper than Young. He walked three and Cleveland a Only hits were two out singles by Baerga in the first and Hill in the third