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Fred Couples, never one to rush, committed on Friday to play in next week’s Pacific Links Hawai’i Championship.
It was the final day to enter and Couples joins a field of 81 senior golfers that is a bit more intriguing than the usual Champions Tour lineup.
Tour rookie Vijay Singh is making his senior debut. There are also three TV analysts (Ian Baker-Finch, Bobby Clampett and Gary McCord), two Bryant brothers (Bart and Brad) and an infamous 1983 Hawaiian Open champion (Isao Aoki).
Couples gives the tournament its sixth World Golf Hall of Fame golfer, with Aoki, Sandy Lyle, Tom Kite, Nick Price and Hale Irwin.
"I’m ecstatic to join the talented field of players already committed to the Pacific Links Hawai‘i Championship," Couples said. "Hawaii’s warm and welcoming culture as well as its natural beauty make it the perfect place to compete."
Couples has eight wins since joining the tour in 2010, when he was rookie of the year. He has four runner-up finishes this season. The 1992 Masters champ also had a 13th-place finish this year at Augusta.
The second Pacific Links Hawai‘i Championship tees off Friday at Kapolei Golf Club. There is a pre-qualifier at Pearl Country Club on Sunday and a Monday qualifier at Kapolei.