Golf Australia is delighted to announce that American Fred Couples will compete in the 2009 Australian Open at New South Wales Golf Club. A former World Number 1 and US Masters champion, Couples has enjoyed another excellent year on the US PGA Tour, culminating in his captaincy of the victorious United States team at the Presidents Cup at Harding Park Golf Club in San Francisco. I am very much looking forward to playing in the Australian Open and in particular the New South Wales Golf Club which is known as one of the most beautiful links courses in the world, Couples said. I haven t been to Sydney for some time and look forward to visiting this magnificent city once again . Couples last played the Australian Open in 1998 at Royal Adelaide Golf Club, which coincidentally, was also played from 3-6 December of that year. Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said he was thrilled to welcome the US Presidents Cup captain to Sydney. It’s fantastic that Fred is able to join us at the Australian Open for the first time in more than a decade and make a welcome return to Sydney, Pitt said. Fred is one of the world s most popular and charismatic golfers and is a joy to watch. He is playing very well and fans will jump at the chance to see him play the spectacular NSW Golf Course at La Perouse. Couples is a five-time Ryder Cup representative and four-time Presidents Cup representative for the United States. He has had four top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour in 2009 including third place finishes at the Shell Houston Open and Northern Trust Open. He has 46 professional career victories and his been voted PGA Tour Player of the Year twice. Couples joins fellow Americans John Daly, Steve Marino, Kevin Stadler and Bryce Molder in the field. The American contingent will be joined by a host of Australian stars including Geoff Ogilvy, Adam Scott, Aaron Baddeley, James Nitties, Greg Chalmers, Stuart Appleby and Mathew Goggin.