Goosen out with broken toe

Ponte Vedra Beach - Twice winner Fred Couples has pulled out of this week's Players Championship because of a long-term back injury, officials said on Wednesday.

The 50-year-old American, champion at the TCP Sawgrass in 1984 and 1996, follows compatriots Steve Stricker and Anthony Kim and South African Retief Goosen, who also withdrew from the tournament due to injury.

World number three Stricker has a sore right shoulder, Kim an injured left thumb and Goosen a broken toe.

In the absence of former world number one Couples, who finished sixth at the Masters last month, American Troy Merritt gains a place in the tournament widely considered the "fifth major" by the players.

The Players Championship starts on Thursday.