Fred Couples withdraws from The Masters at Augusta due to back pain

Fred Couples has withdrawn from this week's Masters at Augusta due to acute back pain.

The 56-year-old American, whose only Major win was at The Masters in 1992, will miss the event for the first time since 1994.

The AP confirmed Couples's absence, meaning that there will be 89 players competing for the green jacket, which is the fewest since 2002.

Couples has struggled with back problems in recent years, and his season so far in 2016 has been limited to just three appearances.