Jason Vargas held the Twins to two runs on five hits over sev

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Tom Watson gives an edge to the long hitters at rain-soaked Shoal Creek. Watson figures guys like Bernhard Langer, Kenny Perry and Fred Couples could have an easier time of it on some holes in rainy, chilly and windy weather at the $2.2 million Regions Tradition starting Thursday. It is the first of the Champions Tours five major championships. "The par 5s really play into their hands," Watson said on Wednesday. "The rest of us, were stretching it getting to the par 5s, especially when it gets wet. "With the predicted rains, it will be tough to get to these par 5s. But Kenny and Freddie Couples shouldnt have a lot of problem." Then theres Langer, who has already won twice this season and reached 20 victories on the 50-and-over tour. "The way Bernhard Langer is going, we need to break his leg," Watson joked. The weather could once again have a big impact on the scenic 7,145-yard, par-72 Shoal Creek course. Rain shortened the pro-ams on Wednesday with more showers expected on Thursday and temperatures possibly plunging into the 40s over the weekend. Play was twice suspended in last years Tradition, the second straight year rain and/or lightning had affected the tournament. It remains to be seen if rain can slow down Langer, coming off his third victory at the Insperity Invitational and finishing eighth at the Masters. "The rain will make the course play much longer," the German said. "The rough will be heavier because of the wet grass. The greens will be a little bit slower. Id rather see the other conditions, but Ive played well in all sorts of conditions. You just have to adjust and do the best with what you find." Langer finished second behind two-time winner Tom Lehman in 2012 and 10th last year. He beat Couples by a stroke at The Woodlands in Texas on May 4. David Frost held on for a one-stroke win over Couples last year at Shoal Creek. Couples opened the season tying for second with Jeff Sluman in Hawaii, behind Langer. "Fred Couples made it pretty clear, I think, in Hawaii, that hes trying to win the Schwab Cup, so were trying to give him some competition here and make it hard for him," Langer said. Fellow World Golf Hall of Famers Watson and Colin Montgomerie arent as well acquainted with the course as some of their peers. Watson, a two-time Masters champion, is competing in the Tradition for the first time since the events debut at Shoal Creek in 2011. He finished tied for 32nd. His history with the course goes back a few decades, though, to the 1984 PGA championship won by Lee Trevino. Watson said the Bermuda rough was so deep "they had three marshals on each side of the fairways because you could lose your golf ball." "Lee Trevino, it was right in his wheelhouse," he said. "He hit the ball so straight off the tee, and he just rarely missed a fairway. And thats what you had to do on this golf course." Montgomerie of Scotland is nearing his anniversary on the 50-and-over tour and makes his Shoal Creek debut. He said the course has a good reputation. "Ive heard a lot about it," Montgomerie said. "You talk about youre going to Alabama and then you say Shoal Creek and everybody in golf knows where youre going or where youve been. This is one of those classic courses. Having played nine holes (Tuesday) and nine holes today, I understand what theyre talking about. A very, very good golf course. "You can drive the ball great but at the same time its more of a second-shot course where I can see there are some pins in awkward places — backside, middle, front, whatever. It will be a great test. Im looking forward to trying to challenge this course." Willie McCovey Jersey . "You hate when they score," he said with some distaste at the thought. "You take pride in it. 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A madcap sequence put the Twins ahead and a crazy play ended it, too. With two outs and none on in the ninth, Mike Moustakas popped a ball straight up. As he stood to watch it in the batters box, catcher Kurt Suzuki tripped over him, resulting in an interference call for the final out. "Thats always on the hitter," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Thats not going to be on the defender. He has a right to catch the ball." After the Royals scored three times in the eighth for a 3-2 lead, reliever Aaron Crow (0-1) walked two Minnesota batters to start the bottom half. Davis struck out Joe Mauer, but Trevor Plouffe walked to load the bases. Chris Herrmann then hit a grounder back to the mound and Davis, hoping to begin an easy double play, hesitated briefly after getting the ball out of his glove. Davis toss sailed past catcher Salvador Perez. Pedro Florimon scored the tying run and Dozier slid home under Perezs return throw to Davis, who was a step late covering the plate. "You got to be aggressive, you cant lose that," Dozier said. "I saw the throw. I saw Davis just hanging out a good 10 yards away from the thing, so might as well take a shot." The lapse by Davis compounded an already frustrating series for the Royals. Kansas City was outscored 21-5 in the sweep. "I got frustrated and made a mental mistake by not being there," Davis said. "Its unacceptable." Casey Fien (1-0) goot one out and Glen Perkins posted his third save.dddddddddddd. The Royals have lost their first five road games this season, managing just nine runs. "I think everybodys trying to do too much right now," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "When you go in a slump everybody tries to do more, and thats only natural for a team when youre having trouble scoring runs." Josmil Pinto hit his third homer in the seventh inning to give the Twins a 2-0 lead. Twins starter Kevin Correia cruised through seven innings before running into trouble in the eighth. He allowed three runs on six hits in seven innings. Eric Hosmers RBI double capped the Royals three-run eighth. Not wearing sleeves despite a gametime temperature of 42 degrees, Jason Vargas held the Twins to two runs on five hits over seven innings for his third straight quality start this season. That type of outing would have been more than enough last season, when the Royals won 15 of 19 from Minnesota. But the Twins now have the upper hand to start 2014. NOTES: The Twins swept the Royals for the first time since winning four in a row in June 2011. ... A CT scan revealed a small fracture in LF Josh Willinghams hand. Twins assistant GM Rob Antony said the team will consult hand specialists, but remains hopeful that Willingham wont need more than 15 days on the disabled list. ... Gardenhire returned after missing the previous two games to attend a funeral. ... Both teams are off on Monday. When the Royals begin a three-game series in Houston on Tuesday, hard-throwing Dominican rookie Yordano Ventura will make his second start against RHP Lucas Harrell (0-2, 11.05). ... The Twins begin a three-game series at Target Field with Toronto on Tuesday. RHP Phil Hughes will look for his first win in a Twins uniform against RHP Brandon Morrow (1-1, 5.73). ' ' '