Couples, Jones join Open dropout list

Fred Couples and Steve Jones became the latest American golfers to pull out next week's Open.

Couples and Jones informed event organizers on Friday of their decisions, with Couples giving no reason for his withdrawal and Jones saying he was not well.

Others who pulled out of the Open at Carnoustie were 1995 winner John Daly, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Kite and Ben Crenshaw, captain of the American Ryder Cup team.

Jones, the 1996 U.S. Open winner, has played in six Opens with his best finish a 16th place tie in 1990. Last year, he finished tied for 57th.

Couples, the 1992 Masters champion, sent a fax to the Royal and Ancient Club confirming he was pulling out. He missed the cut at last month's U.S. Open and he's slipped to 13th in the Ryder Cup standings.

Nicklaus is rehabilitating after hip surgery, Kite and Crenshaw cited poor play and Daly, who finished last at the U.S. Open and next-to-last at the Irish Open, said he wasn't confident enough to compete.

AP