Couples named to World Golf Hall of Fame

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ATLANTA, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Officials of the World Golf Hall of Fame announced Wednesday former Masters champion Fred Couples had been selected as part of the Class of 2013.

Couples will be inducted into the Hall of Fame next May and will be joined by those voted in on the International, Veteran's and Lifetime Achievement ballots. Those selections will be made later this year.

"I don't know exactly the full criteria of becoming a Hall of Famer, but there are certainly some unbelievable ones," Couples said Wednesday. "The call I got last week (informing him of his selection) was truly an honor."

The announcement was made on the eve of the Tour Championship, which will determine the winner of the FedEx Cup.

Couples won on the PGA Tour 15 times, including the Masters in 1992 and the Players Championship in 1984 and 1996. He played in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup matches five times each and will captain the American Presidents Cup for a third time next year.

To be elected to the Hall of Fame, a player must appear on 65 percent of the ballots. Couples was named on only 51 percent of the ballots, but there is a clause in the voting guidelines that states when no one receives 65 percent, the leading vote getter will be elected as long as that person is on at least 50 percent of the ballots.