Paul Casey wins after Fred Couples fades

HUMBLE, Texas — Paul Casey finally considers himself one of the world's top golfers, just in time for the Masters.

Casey won the Shell Houston Open on Sunday for his first PGA Tour victory, beating J.B. Holmes with a bogey on the first playoff hole. The 31-year-old Englishman has nine international victories since 2001, but had not won in the United States.

Seattle native Fred Couples, 49, led for much of the final round but had bogeys on each of the final three holes for a 2-over-par 74 and ended up tied for third place.

Couples, a former University of Houston standout, and Ryan Moore of Puyallup were among six players tied for the lead after the third round was completed early Sunday. Moore closed with a 76 and tied for 11th.

"I am disappointed," Couples said. "I felt like I needed a couple birdies. I made bogey the last three holes. I'm happy with the way I played. Obviously, a lot of people out there supporting me."

Casey (72) and Holmes (69) were tied at 11-under 277 after 72 holes. Couples, Henrik Stenson (70) and Nick O'Hern (70) were at 9 under.

Casey, who earned $1.026 million, will rise from No. 12 to a career-best No. 6 in the world ranking.

"It's time to start believing I can be a top-10 player in the world and maybe I can be in the top five," Casey said.

Holmes needed a victory to earn a trip to the Masters, which starts Thursday. He is the only player from last year's U.S. Ryder Cup team who failed to qualify.

Notes

• Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland earned his first European Tour win by beating Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano of Spain on the third playoff hole at the Estoril Open in Cascais, Portugal. Both were at 7-under 277 after 72 holes.

Hoey, who closed with a 66, earned $208,330.

• Australian Michael Sim shot a 7-under 64 and won the Stonebrae Classic, a Nationwide Tour event in Hayward, Calif. Sim had an 18-under 266 total and earned $108,000.

• Top-ranked Tiger Woods, sporting a goatee, was at Augusta National in Georgia for the first time since his runner-up finish to Trevor Immelman last year at the Masters.

Woods, preparing for the Masters, played 11 holes.