Fred Couples pulls out of Players Championship

[May 08, 2012]  PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Fred Couples has withdrawn from The Players Championship because of an illness.

Couples is a two-time winner of The Players Championship, his last title coming in 1996. He was eligible this year because he won the Senior Players Championship. Because he was an addition to the 144-man field, he will not be replaced.

The Players Championship begins Thursday at the TPC Sawgrass, with K.J. Choi as the defending champion. Others who previously withdrew from the tournament include Masters champion Bubba Watson, who wants to spend time with his new son. Dustin Johnson and Anthony Kim are not playing because of injuries.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.