Fred Couples' attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay was thwarted Monday by a bad back, according to a statement released by the USGA.
Couples withdrew from the 36-hole sectional qualifier in Newport Beach, California, shortly before his 7:20 a.m. tee time. Brennan Amirkhizi took his place, according to a tweet from the Southern California Golf Association.
Couples, 55, whose best finish at the U.S. Open was a tie for third in 1991, had said he wanted to play this year because the course is near Seattle, where he grew up. His last U.S. Open appearance was in 2006.
He has struggled with back issues for much of the later part of his career, but qualifying in Newport Beach seemed like a possibility because he has won twice at Newport Country Club on the Champions Tour and is a member of Big Canyon Country Club, the locations of Monday's Southern California sectional.
Hundreds of golfers are competing Monday at 10 locations in the country for 60 spots in the U.S. Open, which begins next week. Other notable golfers trying to qualify are two-time U.S. Open winners Lee Janzen and Retief Goosen, former world No. 1 Luke Donald, Steve Stricker, Vijay Singh and David Duval.
Davis Love III and Justin Leonard also withdrew from their qualifiers.