Fred Couples will miss Masters for first time in 22 years
Fan-favorite Fred Couples will not play in the 2016 Masters due to major back issues, Augusta National announced Monday.
The 56-year-old Couples, who has battled chronic back pain throughout his entire career, said in a statement that he has been dealing with "acute back troubles the past two weeks."
Couples won the green jacket back in 1992 and has played every Masters since 1994. He's competed in 31 Masters throughout his career and has made the cut 28 times — the third most of any player in tournament history. Couples has 11 top-10 Masters finishes and made the cut 23 years in a row from 1984-2007.
24 days until #themasters. 24 years ago, Fred Couples won the Masters. #cominginapril Watch:https://t.co/xe42LJIBvC
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) March 11, 2016
His last PGA Tour start was at the at the Northern Trust Open on Feb. 19, when he missed the cut at Riviera.
