from 12 feet for bogey. As Couples birdied the 11th and 14th to jump to 13 under, Stadler was missing three straight fairways and sliding to 14 under. But

GLENVIEW, Ill. -- Craig Stadler had been there before, and remembered. It was 21 years ago that Stadler faced a similar putt to hang on for victory on a Sunday afternoon. He had a 12-foot par putt remaining to win the Encompass Championship, and the setting was familiar to so long ago. "It looked really familiar to the putt I made a billion years ago at Akron," Stadler said after dropping the curling putt for a one-stroke victory over Fred Couples at North Shore Country Club. "Kind of left to right, just kind of dripped it in the low side." In 1992, Stadler sank a putt much like that one to win the World Series of Golf at Firestone Country Club by a stroke over Corey Pavin. "I just kind of talked to myself a little bit walking back to it," Stadler said. " You made that one, make this one, what the heck. " He made it to win on the Champions Tour for the first time in eight years and collect the $270,000 first prize, finishing with a 1-under-par 71 to total 13-under 203. But it was more of an adventure on the back nine than the 60-year-old Sadler expected after a building a five-stroke lead through the first eight holes of the final round. "I just kind of hit it down the middle and wonder where it goes," Stadler said of his driving, which was erratic down the stretch. "Ive never done that in 50 years, but thats where Im at now." Stadlers eight years and almost nine months between victories is the longest stretch in Champions Tour history. He played in 170 events on the tour between victories and battled health issues the past three years. J.C. Snead had gone almost seven years between titles from 1995 to 2002. Stadler settled down after bogeys on the 13th and 14th, making par on the next three holes even though he wasnt always in the fairway. Following a perfect drive on 18, he pushed his approach into the right greenside bunker. After putting his third shot 12 feet past the hole, he faced a putt that brought back a positive memory, and took him back to the winners circle. "Whens the last time I had anything to win a golf tournament?" Stadler said. "It was a while ago. So be it. I missed every putt on the back nine and finally made one that counted." Stadler hadnt scored an individual top-10 since tying for seventh in last years 3M Championship. Working with teacher Billy Harmon beginning three months ago helped bring Stadlers game back to championship level. Couples final-round 66 was the best of the day and put him at 12 under, but he bogeyed the final hole. Mark OMeara, Bernhard Langer, David Frost and Jeff Sluman were among seven players tied for third at 205. Stadler held a five-stroke lead on Couples at the turn after birdieing the first, second, fifth and sixth holes. He appeared to be cruising to victory until stumbling beginning at the ninth. Bogeys at the 12th, 14th and 15th followed. Couples birdied his first three holes, going out in 5-under 31, but had gained only one stroke on Stadler at the turn. He got up within a stroke of the lead until that bogey at the par-4 18th. "I just kind of shanked it," Couples said of his wedge approach into a bunker. "It was really a bad swing on as easy a shot as youll ever have." OMeara birdied the par-3 17th to jump to 11 under and finished with a 68. Langer, among the first-round leaders, posted a 69, while Frost bogeyed the final hole to score 70 for his 205. Sluman squandered birdie chances down the stretch en route to a 71. "Obviously I wanted to make the putt on 18 and have a chance at a playoff, but to see him make that putt, it was really, really important to him, and the crowd was really pulling for him," Sluman said. "I couldnt be happier for him. Youve got a great champ." Stadler began to diminish his lead on the par-4 ninth when his approach flew over the green and he stubbed the subsequent chip shot. He two-putted from 12 feet for bogey. As Couples birdied the 11th and 14th to jump to 13 under, Stadler was missing three straight fairways and sliding to 14 under. But Couples failed to convert birdie chances on three late holes, then bogeyed the 18th from the middle of the fairway. Final-round charges by Langer and Mark Calcavecchia brought them closer to Stadler, but not so close that they threatened the lead. Calcavecchia was 12 under with four holes to play, but bogeyed three of the last four holes to finish tied for 10th. Wholesale Adidas Shoes Ireland .C. -- Manny Malhotra had two goals and an assist, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Adidas Outlet Online Ireland . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. http://www.wholesaleadidasshoesireland.com/ . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Authentic Adidas Shoes Wholesale . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. Adidas Shoes Sale Ireland . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. BORDEAUX, France -- Germany coach Joachim Loew reckons Italy will try to catch his team out with an unexpected lineup when the two sides meet in their European Championship quarterfinal on Saturday.Italy is sweating on the fitness of key midfielder Daniele de Rossi, who is laboring with a thigh injury, while his natural replacement Thiago Motta is suspended for the game in Bordeaux.Fellow midfielder Antonio Candreva is injured, and Claudio Marchisio, Marco Verratti and Riccardo Montolivo were all ruled out before the tournament, giving Italy coach Antonio Conte a major problem to solve.And Loew is bracing for the possible answer.We have to assume that the Italians will want to surprise us, that theyll do something with the starting formation we hadnt expected, the Germany coach said Friday.De Rossi is a very good player; he was injured. Of course its important for Italy that he plays, but Italy have several good midfielders. Italy always finds a good solution.Loew has a full squad of 23 players to choose from as he bids to secure Germanys first ever win over Italy at a major tournament.And he is not taaking anything for granted, despite the Azzurris injury problems as they prepare to face Loews world champions.ddddddddddddThe Italians are definitely at the same level, Loew said.Loews side was knocked out in the semifinal stage by Italy four years ago. He was assistant coach when Italy knocked Germany out of its home World Cup at the same stage in 2006. Of eight competitive meetings between the sides, Germany has won none.Midfielder Mesut Ozil indicated that the players were tired of hearing about the past results.There was always the hype that we always failed against Italy in the big tournaments. But as a player youre focused on the here and now. We want to show tomorrow that it can be different, that we can live with the Italians, said Ozil, who pointed to Germanys 4-1 win over Italy in a friendly on March 19 in Munich.We showed that we can beat Italy. The most important thing is to focus on ourselves, to play our game. We have the potential to beat any team, Ozil said. ' ' '