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By Seth Soffian
The News-Press
Fred Couples, John Daly, Masters champion Zach Johnson and young Colombian star Camilo Villegas were among the players announced today by Greg Norman for the field of his Dec. 5-9 Franklin Templeton Shootout in Naples.
Woody Austin, the comedy fall guy of last week's President Cup, and defending champions Jerry Kelly and Rod Pampling also will return to Tiburon Golf Club for the $2.8 million postseason tournament, being held for the 19th time overall and seventh consecutive time in Southwest Florida.
"I would say it's probably as good as any field we've ever had," Norman said today.
Stewart Cink, Charles Howell III and Scott Verplank also will play in the Shootout and competed last week in the President's Cup, where Austin fell in a water hazard after hitting a shot and good naturedly smiled at the laughter that ensued.
"I've never heard of anybody falling in the water after making a golf shot," Norman said.
Eighteen of the 24 spots in the two-player team event were announced today. Also committing were Fred Funk, Mark Calcavecchia, Justin Leonard, Kenny Perry, Nick Price, Chris DiMarco and Mark O'Meara.
Annika Sorenstam, who teamed with Couples last year as the first woman to play in the Shootout, turned down an invitation to return because of a conflicting event, Norman said.
"She's got to defend her title, I believe, in Dubai," Norman said. "She was really teetering on which way to go, to tell you the truth. She loved the event last year.
"We did look at other options," Norman said of inviting a different woman to play this year, "but this event, we don't want to get locked in to say we have to have a women playing every year."
Tickets to the Shootout are on sale and available by calling 888-66-SHARK, visiting Alf's Golf Shop in Naples or going online to www.thesharkshootout.com.
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