Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Fred Couples was elected to the World Golf Hall
of Fame on Wednesday.
The former Masters champion was elected with a record-low 51 percent on the
PGA Tour ballot. The minimum for election is 65 percent, but there is a clause
that states when no one gets the minimum, the leading vote-getter will be
elected so long as that person gets at least 50 percent.
"I don't know exactly the full criteria of becoming a Hall of Famer, but there
are certainly some unbelievable ones," Couples said at Wednesday's press
conference. "The call I got from [PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem] last week
was truly an honor, and I appreciate it."
A 15-time winner on the PGA Tour, he won the Masters in 1992 and captured two
Players Championship titles in 1984 and 1996. He played in both the Ryder Cup
and Presidents Cup five times each and will be the captain of the American
squad at next year's Presidents Cup for a third time.
The 52-year-old, who will also be an assistant captain for Davis Love III at
next week's Ryder Cup, was ranked No. 1 in the world for four months during
1992.
The selections from the International, Veteran's and Lifetime Achievement
ballots will be announced later to round out the 2013 class and they will all
be inducted on May 6 during The Players Championship in St. Augustine,
Florida.
The Sports Network