‘Players" is flagship event

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL - With the world’s best golfers heading to The Players this week to complete for the $9 million purse and a chance to move up in the World Ranking, fans are sure to be happy.

Golf’s most famous player, Tiger Woods, will miss the tournament since he is still recuperating from knee surgery. However, last year’s Players winner, Phil Mickelson, is back to defend his title. On May 13, 2007, Mickelson came from a stroke back on the final round to shoot a three-under 69 to win The Players Championship with an 11-under-par 277.

He is one of the leading players of his generation, having won three major championships and a total of 33 events on the PGA Tour.

In fact 24 of the top-25 and 45 of the top-50 players in the world will be on hand this week including Fred Couples, the 1984 and 1996 tournament champion.

The Golf Channel will have six hours of coverage each of the first two days, while NBC takes over for the weekend and will have five hours of action each day.