Analyzing the leaders

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If history means anything, then just six players have a realistic chance to win THE PLAYERS Championship heading into the final round. Only one time in the history of the tournament has a player come from more than five shots down after 54 holes to win THE PLAYERS (Raymond Floyd, who was six shots back going into the final round in 1981).

Just five players -- including defending champion Phil Mickelson -- are within five shots of third-round leader Paul Goydos. Here's how the top six players on the leaderboard shape up entering the final round:

Top of the leaderboard

Analyzing the top six players going into the final round of THE PLAYERS

Pos. Player Comment 1 Paul Goydos Score: 7 under Leads after 54 holes for the first time in 392 career PGA TOUR starts. Of his two TOUR wins, the last one came at the 2007 Sony Open in Hawaii; both times, he came from two shots down after 54 holes. Has 31 one-putts in the first 54 holes and leads in putts per round (26.0) and total putts made distance (342 feet, 4 inches). Said Goydos: "It's going to be a great experience irrespective of the outcome. This is why we play." Final-round scoring average in 2008: 71.50 (Ranking: T-85) | Scorecard 2 Kenny Perry Score: 6 under Like Goydos, his putter has been hot. Perry, the second-round leader, ranks T3 in putts per round (27.0) and ninth in total putts made distance (278 feet, 9 inches). Only player to birdie the par-4 14th on Saturday. Has been rolling it well from 4-8 feet all week. Said Perry: "If I can go out and shoot 68 or 69 tomorrow and get it to 10-under par, I have a great shot of winning this championship." Final-round scoring average in 2008: 71.78 (Ranking: T-101) | Scorecard 3 Sergio Garcia Score: 4 under The first-round leader looks to become just the second European player to win THE PLAYERS. In 2006, he began the final round at TPC Sawgrass in second place, just one off the lead, but finished T-14. Ranks first in fairways hit this week (34 of 42). Said Garcia: "I've just got to go out there and try to shoot the lowest score I can shoot, and hopefully it's good enough." Final-round scoring average in 2008: 71.50 (Ranking: T-85) | Scorecard T4 Jeff Quinney Score: 2 under Was in third place, two shots off the lead, going into the final round of THE PLAYERS last year and finished with a 73 to post a T6 finish. Has never won a TOUR event; his best finish is a second earlier this year at the Northern Trust Open. Ranks third this week in total putts made distance (305 feet, 7 inches. Final-round scoring average in 2008: 72.20 (Ranking: T-126) | Scorecard T4 Phil Mickelson Score: 2 under Will look to become the first player to win back-to-back PLAYERS Championships. Ranks T4 in greens in regulation (70.4 percent) this week. Said Mickelson: "I need to shoot something in the mid-to-high 60s to have a chance. I'm playing well enough to do it." Final-round scoring average in 2008: 70.13 (Ranking: 24th) | Scorecard T4 Bernhard Langer Score: 2 under Should he win, the 50-year-old German would be the oldest champion in PLAYERS history. He would also be the fifth-oldest winner in PGA TOUR history. After shooting the lowest score (67) in the second round, he came back with a 75, tying for the highest score of any player in the top 20 of the leaderboard. Ranks sixth in approach shot proximity to hole this week (32 feet, 2 inches). Final-round scoring average in 2008: Not available | Scorecard