Fred Couples has withdrawn from this years Masters tournaments due to “acute back pain” and will miss his first Masters tournament since 1994.
The veteran American is a past Champion around Augusta, clinching victory in memorable fashion at the 1992 Masters and since his win he has been a considerable threat around Augusta National.
In 2010, at the age of 50, Couples finished in sole 6th, he shared the 36 hole lead in the 2012 tournament and the following year he was one shot behind, leader Jason Day, after round two and finished tied for 13th.
The later stages of his career have been affected by back problems, with the American admitting that these have become too painful during his tournament preparations. This has featured in his season with Couples only playing one event on the PGA TOUR, unsuccessfully making the cut at the Northern Trust Open in February.
The first major of the year will now feature its fewest number of players in the field since 2002, with only 89 players left in the field which is eight less than the previous years.
Couples won his only green jacket at Augusta in 1992, two strokes ahead of the 1976 champion Raymond Floyd. At the time Couples, the world number one, only had two dropped shots in a final round of 70 playing the shot of the tournament on the 15th hole.
YouTube: Fred Couples 1992 Masters finals day 15th hole second 7 iron
