Couples to defend title against strong field at Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic

SAUCIER, Miss. -- Fred Couples returns this week to defend his title at the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic, and he'll have plenty of competition when the tournament starts on Friday.

This year's field includes Champions Tour rookies Rocco Mediate, Steve Elkington and Bart Bryant, along with others who have had success at Fallen Oak, including perennial contenders Jeff Sluman and David Frost.

Frost and Mediate already have victories this season. Mediate became just the 16th player in Champions Tour history to win in his debut, finishing first at the Allianz Championship in February.

Frost and Mediate are in the same threesome for the first round. Mediate said he hopes Frost's presence will inspire a quick start.

The 50-year-old said one of the biggest adjustments in switching from the PGA Tour to the Champions Tour was events have just three rounds instead of four.

"If the pedal is not down on Friday, you will not win the golf tournament, period. You will not even do well in the golf tournament," Mediate said. "You have to be ready to go. ... You've got to come out firing fast."

Mediate is sure to be a crowd favorite at Fallen Oak. The affable veteran is a six-time PGA Tour winner, but maybe best known for losing on the first sudden-death hole after an 18-hole playoff against Tiger Woods in the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

The weather may make Fallen Oak play more difficult this weekend. The forecast calls for bouts of rain and wind, especially on Friday and Saturday.

Mediate said the course was in very good condition during Wednesday's practice round and had heard good -- and honest -- reviews of the 7,054-yard Fallen Oak.

"It's one of our (tour's) hardest and one of our longest, so I'm intrigued by that," Mediate said.

Couples has had a good start this season, finishing in the top five in both events he's played, including second in last week's Toshiba Classic.

The hottest player on the Champions Tour is Bernhard Langer, who is also in the Fallen Oak field. Langer has finished in the top three in all three events he's played this season, and has finished in the top 10 in seven of his last 10 events dating to last season.

The 2011 champion, Tom Lehman, withdrew this week because of a knee injury.