Field Study: THE PLAYERS

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May. 7, 2008
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents

Phil Mickelson will try to do what no other PLAYERS champion has ever done -- repeat. But he'll have 143 other players trying to unseat him from the throne at TPC Sawgrass. How does the THE PLAYERS Champions field -- the deepest we'll see all year -- stack up? PGATOUR.COM's Helen Ross evaluates every player (in alphabetical order) going into Thursday's opening round. (Rank is Official World Golf Ranking.)

Name	Country	Rank	Prior starts	Best finish
Allen, Michael	USA	246	3	T27 (2005)
Highest finish in 2008 is a tie for 14th.
Allenby, Robert	AUS	36	11	T4 (2003)
Missed the cut in his first start but has cashed 12 straight cuts since, including solo fourth last week.
Ames, Stephen	CAN	30	9	1st (2006)
With a win and runner-up here, the Canadian could be a factor.
Appleby, Stuart	AUS	26	11	T14 (1997)
Has cooled off after a red-hot start but has the game to contend.
Armour, Ryan	USA	313	0	-
Don't look for another Craig Perks-type breakthrough this year.
Armour, Tommy III	USA	226	9	T31 (1998)
The veteran has made just three cuts here.
Austin, Woody	USA	31	9	T16 (2004)
His scoring average on the Stadium Course is 74.31.
Baddeley, Aaron	AUS	17	4	T37 (2007)
His combination of length and precision could serve him well.
Baird, Briny	USA	164	5	T11 (2003)
Another solid season could mean a solid finish here.
Bateman, Brian	USA	191	1	T56 (2005)
Needs to get some confidence back after two missed cuts.
Beckman, Cameron	USA	291	4	T26 (2004)
Hasn't played since he got sick and withdrew from the Verizon Heritage.
Beem, Rich	USA	243	7	T44 (2002)
Only has one top-20 this year.
Bohn, Jason	USA	96	2	T27 (2006)
Was on top of his game in finishing third last week and could contend.
Bryant, Bart	USA	51	5	T56 (2006)
Solid performer with a second and third among his last four starts.
Byrd, Jonathan	USA	68	6	T16 (2007)
Steady driver in the mold of former PLAYERS champion Fred Funk.
Cabrera, Angel	ARG	21	5	T26 (2001)
Reigning U.S. Open champ has missed his last three cuts here.
Calcavecchia, Mark	USA	46	21	2nd (1990)
If his putter gets hot, watch out.
Campbell, Chad	USA	62	5	T6 (2003)
His best PLAYERS finish came in his first start.
Campbell, Michael	NZ	287	6	T11 (2002)
Has made just two cuts in nine events on four tours worldwide this year.
Casey, Paul	ENG	38	3	T10 (2004)
A 79 on Sunday robbed him of a chance on a Green Jacket.
Cejka, Alex	GER	221	2	T12 (2005)
He's only broken par once in his last six rounds.
Choi, K.J.	KOR	8	6	T16 (2006)
Could this be where the talented Korean takes the next step?
Chopra, Daniel	SWE	69	3	T40 (2005)
Has been feast or famine since he won the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship.
Cink, Stewart	USA	12	10	T3 (2007)
With six top-10s in 10 starts, could this be Cink's year?
Clark, Tim	SAF	43	5	T21 (2003)
Normally plays the tough courses well.
Coceres, Jose	ARG	168	3	5th (2007)
Started off well but has missed his last three cuts.
Couples, Fred	USA	175	24	1st (1984, 1996)
The two-time champ has confidence after a tie for eighth at Quail Hollow.
Crane, Ben	USA	140	3	T36 (2006)
Another steady season with four top 20s.
Curtis, Ben	USA	78	4	MC
Sealed second place at the Wachovia Championship with a Sunday 65.
Davis, Brian	ENG	187	3	T20 (2006)
That tie for 20th in '06 is his only made cut at THE PLAYERS.
DiMarco, Chris	USA	165	9	T12 (2007)
No one doubts his desire, but he's missed the cut in 8 of 11 starts this year.
Donald, Luke	ENG	19	5	T2 (2005)
He knows he can play here after finishing a stroke behind Fred Funk
Duke, Ken	USA	144	1	T37 (2007)
Appears to have steadied the ship after missing seven of his first 10 cuts in 2008.
Elkington, Steve	AUS	119	17	1st (1991, 1997)
The two-time winner is quietly having a good year.
Els, Ernie	SAF	4	14	T8 (2006)
Has six top-20s here but has never really contended.
Estes, Bob	USA	276	17	T17 (2005)
He's 16-over par in his last three starts on TOUR.
Fasth, Niclas	SWE	25	3	T21 (2003)
A tie for eighth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational is his only top 10 this year.
Flesch, Steve	USA	72	9	T38 (2000)
His tie for fifth at the Masters should give him confidence.
Funk, Fred	USA	185	17	1st (2005)
His victory here shows the TPC Sawgrass suits all kinds.
Furyk, Jim	USA	7	12	T3 (2006)
A hometown win would be a popular one.
Garcia, Sergio	SPN	18	8	2nd (2007)
He has yet to really contend this year.
Garrigus, Robert	USA	211	1	MC
Needs to shake off the memory of the 85 he shot in his PLAYERS debut last year.
Gay, Brian	USA	129	6	T40 (2001)
Picked up his first PGA TOUR win earlier this year at the Mayakoba Golf Classic.
Glover, Lucas	USA	106	2	MC
After two missed cuts, needs to solve the riddle of the Stadium.
Goggin, Matthew	AUS	163	2	T12 (2007)
Tied for seventh at the Verizon Heritage, another Pete Dye creation.
Goosen, Retief	SAF	29	9	2nd (2006)
Showed signs of returning to form with a second-place finish at the CA Championship.
Gore, Jason	USA	189	2	T23 (2007)
Has only played once since illness forced him to withdraw from the Shell Houston Open.
Goydos, Paul	USA	169	9	T38 (1999)
Is coming off his best finish of the year, a tie for 25th at Quail Hollow.
Green, Nathan	AUS	94	2	T16 (2007)
Tied for third at The Honda Classic so he must like Florida.
Gronberg, Mathias	SWE	407	1	T72 (2007)
He didn't break par in his first appearance.
Haas, Bill	USA	219	1	T72 (2007)
Four straight missed cuts have frustrated him.
Hamilton, Todd	USA	537	4	T58 (2004)
The 2004 British Open has already earned more this year than each of the last two seasons.
Hansen, Soren	DEN	43	0	-
The European Tour veteran is coming off a third-place finish at the Open de Espana.
Harrington, Padraig	IRE	11	7	2nd (2004)
The reigning British Open champ hasn't finished lower than 26th in eight starts this year.
Hart, Dudley	USA	134	12	T25 (1998)
Has finished seventh and fifth in the last two weeks.
Hayes, J.P.	USA	296	7	T6 (2007)
Has missed his last nine cuts -- and TPC Sawgrass isn't a place to find your game.
Henry, J.J.	USA	195	6	T45 (2006)
TPC Sawgrass doesn't seem to be his cup of tea after five missed cuts.
Hensby, Mark	AUS	199	2	T73 (2005)
That T4 in Dallas came out of the blue after seven missed cuts in 11 starts.
Herron, Tim	USA	248	12	T6 (2005)
Has broken 70 seven times in 36 rounds on the Stadium Course.
Hoffman, Charley	USA	138	1	T75 (2007)
Snapped a string of seven missed cuts with a pair of top 10s in Houston and Dallas.
Holmes, J.B.	USA	49	2	T16 (2007)
Won the FBR Open for the second time earlier this year.
Howell, Charles III	USA	47	6	T32 (2003)
Has never broken 70 in 20 rounds at TPC Sawgrass.
Imada, Ryuji	JPN	66	2	T68 (2007)
With three top 10s, this is already his best year on TOUR.
Immelman, Trevor	SAF	15	2	MC
Masters champion looking to recover the magic.
Jacobson, Fredrik	SWE	84	4	T22 (2006)
Scoring average in four PLAYERS Championships is 74.00.
Jimenez, Miguel A.	SPN	40	6	T38 (2006, 1999)
Tied for eighth at the Masters and is coming off a share of fourth at the Open de Espana.
Johnson, Richard	166	WAL	0	-
The rookie from Wales hasn't finished higher than a tie for 30th at the FBR Open.
Johnson, Zach	USA	22	3	T8 (2005)
2007 Masters champ has been consistent, if not flashy this year.
Jones, Matt	AUS	197	0	-
The Aussie ranks 184th in driving accuracy, which could hurt him at TPC Sawgrass.
Kelly, Jerry	USA	64	12	4th (2001)
A tie for second in Puerto Rico has been followed by four missed cuts.
Kim, Anthony	USA	16	1	MC
The youngest gun comes in with momentum after his win in Charlotte.
Kraft, Greg	USA	263	7	T22 (2000)
Veteran picked up the first win of his career in Puerto Rico earlier this year.
Kresge, Cliff	USA	124	2	T28 (2007)
Already has three top-five finishes in 2008.
Kuchar, Matt	USA	162	3	T16 (2004)
The course has changed considerably since his last appearance in '04.
Langer, Bernhard	GER	127	22	2nd (1993, 1995)
This Champions Tour newbie has five top 10s at TPC Sawgrass.
Leaney, Stephen	AUS	232	5	MC
Not only has he failed to make the cut in five appearances, he's never broken par at TPC Sawgrass.
Lehman, Tom	USA	167	16	T2 (1998, 2005)
He's had five top-10s in 16 PLAYERS starts.
Leonard, Justin	USA	35	13	1st (1998)
The steady Texan has not missed a cut all year.
Lonard, Peter	AUS	57	5	T6 (2007)
It's been feast or famine this year for the Aussie.
Love, Davis III	USA	114	22	1st (1992, 2003)
Is this where the two-time PLAYERS champ resurrects his game?
Lowery, Steve	USA	136	14	T6 (1994)
He hasn't finished higher than 62nd since winning at Pebble Beach this year.
Maggert, Jeff	USA	310	17	3rd (1994)
With two ties for 23rd his best of the year, 2008 hasn't been kind.
Mahan, Hunter	USA	37	2	T40 (2005)
A solid, if unspectacular year for one of 2007's whiz kids.
Mallinger, John	USA	139	1	T64 (2007)
Has broken 70 just twice in his last 12 rounds on TOUR.
Marino, Steve	USA	130	1	MC
Too talented not to improve on last year's 81-78 debut.
Maruyama, Shigeki	JPN	282	9	T14 (2002)
His best finish of the year, a tie for 25th, came in his first start in Hawaii.
Matteson, Troy	USA	91	1	MC
Is 24-over par in his last five starts on TOUR.
Mayfair, Billy	USA	86	18	T5 (2001)
Has missed the cut in four of his last five PLAYERS appearances.
McNeill, George	USA	87	0	-
The Florida State product would be a popular winner in his home state.
Mediate, Rocco	USA	183	18	3rd (2002)
If his back cooperates, Mediate can play the Stadium Course.
Merrick, John	USA	220	0	-
Rides a solid season with two top 10s into his PLAYERS debut.
Micheel, Shaun	USA	176	6	9th (2004)
Eight missed cuts in 13 starts this year isnt a confidence builder.
Mickelson, Phil	USA	2	14	1st (2007)
Defending champion likes the emphasis TPC Sawgrass places on the short game.
Moore, Ryan	USA	81	1	T68 (2007)
Lost in a playoff in Dallas two weeks ago so he could be ready.
Na, Kevin	USA	120	2	MC
Veteran hasn't had a top 10 since February.
Ogilvie, Joe	USA	201	4	T32 (2005)
Scoring average in four PLAYERS Championships is 74.10.
Ogilvy, Geoff	AUS	6	6	T16 (2004)
The 2007 U.S. Open champ plays tough courses well and has already won once in Florida this year.
O'Hair, Sean	USA	28	2	11th (2007)
A win would be a storybook finish for last year's hard-luck kid.
O'Hern, Nick	AUS	50	3	T24 (2005)
The leftie has cooled off considerably since a tie for sixth at Doral.
Olazabal, Jose Maria	SPN	160	14	T3 (2007)
He's finished top 10 in each of his last two starts at TPC Sawgrass and shot in the 60s in his final three rounds last year.
Overton, Jeff	USA	269	0	-
Ranks 193rd in driving accuracy, so TPC Sawgrass could be a challenge.
Pampling, Rod	AUS	63	5	T27 (2005)
Aussie comes to Ponte Vedra on the heels of his third top 10 of the season.
Parnevik, Jesper	SWE	173	13	T23 (1999)
Never had much success here, but he's finished T13 and T12 in his last two starts on TOUR.
Perez, Pat	USA	55	5	T3 (2006)
After shooting 65 at Quail Hollow, he said his focus was all about this week.
Pernice, Tom Jr.	USA	143	8	T27 (2006)
Has three top 10s this season but a 73.67 scoring average at TPC Sawgrass.
Perry, Kenny	USA	99	19	T3 (2004)
A win here would help his bid to play a Ryder Cup in his native Kentucky.
Petrovic, Tim	USA	259	4	T27 (2005)
Last week's tie for 73rd was his highest finish in his last three starts.
Pettersson, Carl	SWE	76	4	T8 (2006)
The Swedish redneck weilds that long putter with authority but will need to improve on his driving accuracy at Sawgrass.
Poulter, Ian	ENG	27	4	T27 (2006)
More than a flashy dresser, can he take the next step here?
Quigley, Brett	USA	223	5	T24 (2005)
He hasn't finished higher than 57th in his last seven starts.
Quinney, Jeff	USA	75	1	T6 (2007)
A third-round 65 propelled the Wildcat to a top 10 in his PLAYERS debut.
Rollins, John	USA	93	5	T8 (2006)
Accurate driver and solid ball-striker has the game to contend here.
Romero, Andres	ARG	23	0	-
Talented Argentine will depend on his imagination at TPC Sawgrass.
Rose, Justin	ENG	10	4	T39 (2003)
Posted top 15s in three events during the Florida swing.
Sabbatini, Rory	SAF	13	8	T42 (2004)
After two top-3 finishes in his first three starts of '08, the South African hasn't placed higher than 33rd.
Scott, Adam	AUS	3	6	1st (2004)
Playing so well, the Aussie cut short a vacation and immediately won in Dallas three weeks ago.
Senden, John	AUS	52	5	T22 (2005)
Solid performer but has only broken 70 once in 16 rounds at TPC Sawgrass.
Singh, Vijay	FIJ	9	15	2nd (2001)
Has a scoring average of 71.80 in 64 rounds on his home course.
Slocum, Heath	USA	73	5	T44 (2007)
Coming off a tie for fifth at the Wachovia Championship.
Snedeker, Brandt	USA	34	1	T12 (2007)
Has yet to recapture the magic of that tie for fifth at the Masters.
Stadler, Kevin	USA	216	0	-
Father Craig had two top 10s in 27 PLAYERS starts.
Stenson, Henrik	SWE	14	2	T3 (2006)
Has five top 10s on the European Tour this year and ranks second on the Order of Merit.
Sterne, Richard	SAF	39	0	-
Has one win and hasn't missed a cut in seven starts worldwide in 2007.
Stricker, Steve	USA	5	12	T6 (1999)
Hasn't finished lower than 14th in the seven events he's made the cut this year.
Sutherland, Kevin	USA	90	10	T6 (2004)
Posted two top 10s in his last three starts.
Taylor, Vaughn	USA	150	3	T8 (2006)
Solid ball-striker, but he's had trouble getting untracked this season.
Thompson, Nicholas	USA	196	0	-
Nationwide Tour grad two ties for fourth this season are the best of his career.
Toms, David	USA	53	15	T12 (2001)
His back has been bothering him, but a tie for 17th at the Wachovia Championship showed he's back on track.
Trahan, D.J.	USA	117	2	MC
Picked up the second win of his TOUR career earlier this year.
Van Pelt, Bo	USA	145	3	T8 (2006)
A tie for second in Puerto Rico is the highlight of his season.
Verplank, Scott	USA	32	15	T2 (2005)
Has two top 10s in his last five starts on the Stadium Course.
Villegas, Camilo	COL	61	2	T3 (2006)
Has shot par or better in six of his last eight rounds on TOUR.
Wagner, Johnson	USA	115	0	-
Recent Shell Houston Open champ has come alive after missing the cut in six of his first nine starts.
Warren, Charles	USA	171	2	T16 (2006)
His only top 10 of the season came a long time ago at the FBR Open.
Watney, Nick	USA	98	1	MC
On track for a third straight $1 million season.
Watson, Bubba	USA	107	1	MC
Big-hitter's length won't be as much of an asset at TPC Sawgrass as other TOUR stops.
Weekley, Boo	USA	24	1	T44 (2007)
Has two wins on a Pete Dye course already.
Weir, Mike	CAN	41	8	T17 (2005)
Diminutive Canadian has a 72.71 scoring average at TPC Sawgrass.
Westwood, Lee	ENG	20	7	T5 (1998)
European Ryder Cup mainstay has four top 10s on the European Tour this year.
Wetterich, Brett	USA	70	1	T52 (2007)
At 176th on the money list, he could be struggling to keep his card if things don't improve.
Wi, Charlie	KOR	172	0	-
A tie for seventh in Dallas is his best of the season.
Wilkinson, Tim	NZ	271	0	-
Comes to TPC Sawgrass on the heels of two missed cuts, never a good thing.
Wilson, Dean	USA	153	3	MC
Shot 5 under and tied for 12th at Quail Hollow last week in his best performance of the season.
Wilson, Mark	USA	125	1	MC
He hasn't finished higher than 47th in his last six starts this year.