Couples, Singh out of Australian tournaments

text size

SYDNEY (AP) -- Fred Couples is out of the Australian Open and Vijay Singh has withdrawn from the Australian PGA due to injuries, the PGA Tour of Australasia said Saturday.

Couples was a late addition to the Dec. 3-6 Australian Open at New South Wales Golf Club in Sydney after tournament drawcard Greg Norman withdrew due to slower-than-expected recovery from shoulder surgery. Couples has now had to pull out with a lower back injury.

"I was immensely looking forward to coming back Down Under," Couples said in the statement. "I hope to be able to do so in the very near future."

Singh was scheduled to play at the Australian PGA at the Hyatt Regency resort course at Coolum, Queensland from Dec. 10-13, but he underwent knee surgery Wednesday.

The Australasian Tour statement said that during a recent trip to Japan, Singh suffered intense pain in his knee. He flew immediately to Los Angeles to have floating cartilage removed.

The statement said that while doctors are pleased with his progress, Singh has also withdrawn from next week's Chevron World Challenge in California and is unable to play for the remainder of the year.

American John Daly is scheduled to play in both the Australian Open and Australian PGA, as well as Australians Geoff Ogilvy, Adam Scott, Michael Sim, Mathew Goggin, Marc Leishman, Stuart Appleby and Greg Chalmers.