Fred Couples has been forced to withdraw from this week's $1.5 million World Cup at Kiawah Island due to the condition of his father, who is critically ill with leukaemia. Couples' replacement in the US line-up will be Justin Leonard, the reigning British Open champion. Fears that Couples would not be available grew following his decision not to show up for a scheduled appearance at a golf course near Wilmington, North Carolina, on Monday. "Naturally, we are all saddened by Freddie's situation and we believe he has made the correct decision," said Burch Riber of the organising committee, yesterday.
Typical of US golf, Couples' replacement is arguably stronger, certainly on current form. The appearance of Leonard was facilitated by the fact that both he and Davis Love, the other member of the US team, are handled by the same management group.
As it happens, Leonard is attached to Kiawah as their touring professional and is, in fact, the course record holder with a two-under-par 70.
Leonard, Love, Ernie Els and Tiger Woods have been in Hawaii for the last two days competing in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, an event confined to the holders of the four major championships. Those involved in the World Cup - Leonard, Love and South Africa's Els - are expected to fly into Charleston early this morning.
The first thing they will notice is that it's cold over here, with temperatures barely rising above 50 degrees. So, there was no climatic comfort awaiting those of us, including some leading contestants, who had decidedly tortuous trips to South Carolina.
My travel arrangements happened to coincide with those of England's representatives, Mark James and Paul Broadhurst, Scotland's Raymond Russell and Australian Wayne Riley. We fell victim to a three-hour delay in getting from London to Washington, caused by an engine problem.
The four players decided to spend Monday night in Washington, and didn't get here until yesterday afternoon. However, that was some hours earlier than Colin Montgomerie, who embellished his status as Europe's number one for a record fifth successive year by winning the Hassan Trophy in Morocco last Sunday.
The 43rd staging of the tournament includes six countries who have been everpresent since the inaugural event at Montreal in 1953: Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, Germany and the US. Mexico and the current holders, South Africa, were also there, but Mexico missed the 1977 tournament, and because of apartheid, South Africa were absentees from 1981 to 1992.
Ireland first came into the event in 1954 when Harry Bradshaw and Fred Daly were tied 11th behind Australia, represented by Peter Thomson and Kel Nagle. So, the Irish have been there on 42 occasions, along with France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain and Wales.
The customary, 32-team line-up will be competing this week for a top prize of $200,000 per player. And at individual level, the top scorer will earn an additional $100,000 from a separate fund of $200,000. girl.
When the field eventually assembles today, the main focus will be on two teams. Having become the first partnership to win the event on four successive occasions, from 1992 to 1995, Love and Couples stepped aside last year when South Africa won on home territory.
Now, with Couples out of action, only Love has the chance this week of attempting to move closer to another record. That is the six winning appearances by compatriots Jack Nicklaus (1963, 1964, 1966, 1977, 1971, 1973) and Arnold Palmer (1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967).
