Players primed for next test at TPC Sawgrass  PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- He says he still has a little work to do to get ready.  Though he's got a new blue jacket in his wardrobe, Tiger Woods knows he'll have to play better at TPC Sawgrass. (Richard Schultz/WireImage)
Judging from Tiger Woods' performance at the Wachovia Championship, though, he's primed to make a run at his second PLAYERS Championship title when the PGA TOUR's marquee event takes center stage on Monday. Woods won the Wachovia Championship on Sunday with a masterful performance in major championship-caliber conditions. The victory was Woods' third of the season and his first at an event that had attracted 27 of the top 30 players in the world. Woods, who also took over the lead in the FedExCup for the first time this season, matched Sunday's low round with a 69 to edge Steve Stricker by two strokes. The game's No. 1 player shot a 31 on Quail Hollow's front nine, fueled by a 50-foot eagle at the seventh hole that lifted him into a lead he would not relinquish. Phil Mickelson, who ranks No. 3 in the world, and Rory Sabbatini tied for third at 9 under, four strokes off the pace set by Woods. No. 7 Vijay Singh contended, too, but an uncharacteristic triple bogey at the 18th hole dropped him back into the pack. Airports in Jacksonville, Orlando and St. Augustine will be doing a brisk business over the next 24 hours as players from around the world converge on Florida's First Coast to compete in THE PLAYERS, which annually features the strongest field in golf. "The next three days are important," said Woods, who has now won half of the six tournaments he's entered this season. "Most of the shots I hit this week were pretty good, but then again, I did hit a couple wide. You just can't do that next week. "I've got to get that under control and get that straightened out so that my misses aren't way off line there, still in the fairway. That's the ultimate goal." The pressure didn't let up until Woods' final putt for par dropped on the treacherous 18th hole at Quail Hollow, which was the most difficult of the week, playing to a par of 4.447 overall and 4.560 on Sunday. An even sterner test awaits in THE PLAYERS Stadium at the TPC Sawgrass, though. The Pete Dye layout has undergone an extensive renovation to its underpinnings with the addition of a sub-air drainage system that will ensure the course plays as it was intended -- firm, fast and fair. Those conditions are sure to bring the many mounds, swales, bunkers and water hazards even more into play. Although Dye's master plan remains the essentially same, the players are anxious to see what the nuances are. Not to mention, they'll set foot in the new 77,000-square-foot Mediterranean revival clubhouse for the first time this week. "We're all looking forward to getting back to TPC Sawgrass," Mickelson said. "The clubhouse is done, we're excited to see that. The golf course has been renovated, we're excited to see that, see how it plays, see how the condition is. I think everybody is really looking forward to the tournament." The Wachovia Championship and PLAYERS are being contested in back-to-back weeks for the first time this year. THE PLAYERS had annually been held in March but was moved as the PGA TOUR's marquee events were spread out into consecutive months. "This is a great event to hold the week before THE PLAYERS because it's such a challenging setup, such a challenging layout, challenging off the tee," Mickelson said. "The greens are difficult, they're fast. It really makes a nice stretch. "It's close by, and to have these two tournaments, really the upper-echelon events, together makes it great for the players, and we all look forward to that two week stretch." Mickelson, who posted his second third-place finish in as many weeks, says he feels good about the swing changes he is making under the tutelage of Butch Harmon. His best finish at THE PLAYERS is, you guessed it, third, and he's ready to test his game again on the Stadium Course. "With the way the week went obviously, obviously you want to win, but there's only one guy that's going to win," he said. "I thought I played well and I'm excited about getting a little momentum after last week's third-place finish, same thing this week. I'm looking forward to carrying that into THE PLAYERS." Copyright 2007 PGATOUR.com. All rights reserved. |
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