Fred Couples withdraws from Masters with back injury

Fred Couples has withdrawn from this week’s Masters with a back injury.

The 1992 champion would have been making his 34th consecutive appearance at Augusta National this week. It’s the first time Couples has missed the Masters since 1982.

Couples’ back has long been an issue, restricting how often the University of Houston product can compete and how effectively he can play his smooth power game. However, Augusta National has often proven some kind of foundation of youth for Couples. Prior to missing the cut last year, Couples had finished in the top 20 in the prior for years of the event.

So far in 2016, Couples has played limited golf, making just two PGA Tour Champions starts, including a runner-up finish at the Chubb Classic in February, and missing the cut at the Northern Trust Open.

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