KAUPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii » When Tom Watson was asked when was the last time he was paired with Fred Couples in a golf tournament, he paused for a moment and smiled.

“;I don't know; don't ask a 60-year-old guy that,”; Watson said. “;I have no chance of knowing that answer.”;

Champions Tour media man Phil Stambaugh had the answer—the opening two rounds of the 2003 British Open, where Watson eventually finished tied for 18th and Couples tied for 46th.

Today's final twosome at the $1.8 million Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai matches Champions Tour rookie Couples at age 50 against Watson at age 60 in a promising pairing that's sure to draw a crowd.

Despite missing a trio of par putts from 4 feet and in on the front nine, Watson rallied with five consecutive birdies on the back to shoot a 6-under 66 for a two-day total of 15-under 129. Playing in the pairing in front of Watson with Michael Allen, Couples matched Watson's 66 for a two-day total of 13-under 131.

For Couples, he is trying to win his first Champions Tour event in his inaugural appearance on the senior circuit, something that has been done 15 times, including three in 2009. For Watson, he's trying to end a victory drought that dates back to 2008 and become the first 60-year-old to win a tournament since Dr. Gil Morgan in 2007.

It marks the second consecutive round that Watson is paired with a 50-year-old youngster. He and Tom Lehman went head-to-head yesterday, with Lehman shooting a solid 67 for a two-day total of 12-under 132. He is tied for third with Allen, who fired his second consecutive 66.

“;Freddie and Tom give our tour some street cred,”; Watson said. “;People say, 'Couples, he's playing the Champions Tour, let's go watch him.' And that happens every year out here. It's the beauty of our tour. Our tour, every year has got names coming out who people recognize. Some a little more famous than others. Freddie would have to be right in there, and that's what gives our tour its stature.”;

Couples sees it from an entirely different perspective. Being paired with an eight-time major champion, who was an 8-foot putt away from winning the 2009 British Open, is an honor that's difficult to put into words.

“;I shot 66, but I felt like I was losing ground, maybe kept ground,”; said Couples, who, like Watson, finished at 6 under for his round. “;I'm very excited about it. I haven't played with him, I don't even know the last time. It will be fun. Obviously, I know how great a player he is out here and everywhere. For my first tournament to get going and to be in second place and to be able to play with him on Sunday, it will be a fun day.”;

The front nine wasn't all that fun for Watson, who carded three birdies and three bogeys en route to a ho-hum 36. Despite his putting woes, Watson found his range on the back with six birdies, including five in a row from 10 through 14.

“;It's like a horse race, as I've said.”; Watson said. “;It's a sprint and I darn near fell off on the front nine. Three-putting three times, missing that short one at 1, missing a short one at 8 and missing about a 4-footer at 9. None of them were any good and it kind of depresses one's confidence with the putter, but I still was hitting the ball OK.

“;And so I made my first birdie at 10, so I said let's see how many birdies I can make on the back nine; kept on knocking them pretty close and I made several putts and lo and behold that was the turnaround I needed.”;

Couple's turnaround wasn't as dramatic, but crucial just the same. At the par-4 11th, he hit his second shot in the bunker. The third one almost made it out, but hit the lip and rolled back in. Couples tried it again and knocked it in the cup for par.

“;That was one of the better shots I hit actually,”; Couples said of his 8-iron that found the bunker. “;So, it was weird, I got down in there, I did not want to make a bogey. It was so fast going away from me I kind of thought I could chop at it and pop it up and just get it going, which I did on my second one. That was huge. The save on the next hole was just as good, too. You don't hole bunker shots for par, that might be my only time all year I do that, but it was good timing.”;

Couples had a bogey-free round with six birdies, while Watson's scorecard was filled with plenty of squares and circles. He had three bogeys and nine birdies. For the opening 36 holes, Watson has managed 16 birdies. The record of 26 birdies was set by Loren Roberts in his 2006 win.

For Watson, he's 0-for-33 in events in the 50th state. He bought a home here at Hualalai last year and would like nothing better than to end that winless drought today.

“;I hope my horse doesn't trip,”; Watson said. “;I'm not holding back on the reins.”;