Zurich Classic: Unfancied American Chris Couch shot a final round of seven under par 65 to win the Zurich Classic by one shot from the fast finishing Fred Funk in New Orleans yesterday.

The 32-year-old from Florida, one ahead at the start of the day, birdied five of the first seven holes before holing a four-footer at the ninth to reach the turn in a blistering six-under 30.

Couch continued his good run on the homeward journey with birdies at the 12th and 16th before a bogey five at the 17th left him just one ahead playing the last.

And in a dramatic final hole Couch found sand with his approach shot, failed to hit the green with his third but pitched in to win by one.

Pádraig Harrington, meanwhile, continued his birdie blitz as he raced up the leaderboard in the final round.

Starting the day five shots behind surprise leader Couch, Harrington shot eight birdies in a round of 66 to finish at 13-under-par 275 to move up from 21st place to a share of 11th.

Three birdies on the first nine took Harrington to the turn in 33 but he looked to be on his way to a high finish when hitting five birdies in six holes from the 11th.

However, for the second day running, he finished poorly with dropped shots at the 15th and 18th where he was in trouble with his drive on both occasions.

Graeme McDowell had a day of mixed fortune. The Rathmore man eagled the 11th, fired birdies at the second, eighth, 13th, 15th and 18th but dropped shots at the first and fifth in a round of 67 to finish at 12-under-par 276.

Funk went to the turn in five-under-par 31 and continued the birdie trail with six more on the way home with just one dropped shot at the 16th.

American Lucas Glover, an astonishing nine under for his round with four holes to play, failed to keep up the momentum and finished with a 63 for a 274 total.