Field Study: Analysis of all 145 players in THE PLAYERS

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Caryn Levy/PGA TOUR

Which player's name will be engraved on THE PLAYERS Championship crystal this year? We get the answer on Sunday.

May. 6, 2009
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Tiger Woods said it best this week about THE PLAYERS Championship: "Obviously, it's the best field in all of golf." And that field -- 145 players strong -- gets the action started in Thursday's first round at the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. Here's a quick look at each player in the field (in order of Official World Golf Ranking):
• MORE ON THE FIELD: Power Rankings | Expert picks | Sleepers | Inside the Field

Rk.	Name	PLAYERS starts	Best finish	FEC rank
1	Tiger Woods	11	1st (2001)	10
He's had only one other top 10 at TPC Sawgrass but after that performance at Quail Hollow -- watch out.
2	Phil Mickelson	15	1st (2007)	2
His third win of the season, and second at THE PLAYERS, would send Lefty to Bethpage with momentum.
3	Sergio Garcia	9	1st (2009)	136
Second and first in his last two PLAYERS starts would point to a strong bid for a successful title defense. Sergio's 2009 TOUR results, though, have been mixed.
4	Geoff Ogilvy	7	T18 (2004)	1
The Aussie hasn't had much success on the Stadium Course, but two wins already in 2009 might say otherwise.
5	Kenny Perry	20	T3 (2004)	5
The popular 48-year-old from Kentucky will be the sentimental favorite after his playoff loss at Augusta National.
6	Paul Casey	4	T10 (2004)	7
Forget those three missed cuts at THE PLAYERS -- his first TOUR win and second in a WGC event show Casey's at the top of his game.
7	Padraig Harrington	8	2nd (2003, 2004)	78
The man who won 2008's last two majors has yet to hit his stride this year. A MC in Charlotte gives him more time to practice -- and make no mistake, he will.
8	Vijay Singh	16	2nd (2001)	132
It's a home game for Vijay and you can bet he'll be spending some extra time on the range -- he's only had two rounds in the 60s all year.
9	Henrik Stenson	4	T3 (2006)	N/A
The Stadium Course seems to suit him -- he has two top-10s in just three starts. Now if he can just avoid the water hazards ...
10	Camilo Villegas	3	T3 (2006)	29
He won THE TOUR Championship last year, why not THE PLAYERS? He's got five top-15s already in 2009.
11	Robert Karlsson	1	T6 (2007)	N/A
His first round at TPC Sawgrass was a forgettable 77 but he broke par in the next three -- including a 66 that Sunday -- so who knows?
12	Sean O'Hair	3	11th (2007)	3
He comes to Sawgrass after winning in Charlotte Sunday -- look for him to contend. His best finish at THE PLAYERS is deceiving. O'Hair held the 54-hole lead that year but saw his hopes vanish with a quad at the 17th on Sunday.
13	Steve Stricker	13	T6 (1999)	9
He's played well this year with five top-10s but hasn't gotten it done when he's had a chance to win.
14	Anthony Kim	2	T42 (2008)	43
A tie for second at the Mercedes-Benz Championship is the highlight of an injury-plagued season where he has only played seven TOUR events.
15	Jim Furyk	13	T3 (2006)	34
He may practice at TPC Sawgrass when he's home but it hasn't been kind to the veteran. Snapping a winless streak of more than a year here seems a stretch.
17	Ernie Els	15	T6 (2008)	46
A tie for fourth on the European Tour in his last start could give the Big Easy, who has four top-10s at THE PLAYERS, some momentum.
18	Rory McIlroy	N/A	N/A	N/A
Don't doubt it -- this Irish youngster (he turned 20 on Monday) is the real deal. He posted top 20s in his first five PGA TOUR events.
19	Angel Cabrera	6	T26 (2001)	15
The Stadium Course has the recent Masters champs' number -- he hasn't made the cut in his last four starts at THE PLAYERS.
20	Mike Weir	9	T17 (2005)	27
He started hot with two top-3s in his first three starts, but the normally steady Canadian's GIR stats have plummeted.
21	Retief Goosen	10	2nd (2006)	11
He ended a victory drought of nearly four seasons in Tampa and was among the contenders last week. The South African definitely could be a factor.
22	Luke Donald	6	T2 (2005)	22
Donald is a victory waiting to happen -- he's quietly picked up four top-10s this year and his fairways-and-greens game suits the Stadium.
23	Martin Kaymer	N/A	N/A	N/A
The German, who is making his PLAYERS debut, had two top-4s earlier in the European Tour season and was on the leaderboard in Charlotte on Sunday until two closing bogeys knocked him down into a tie for 11th.
24	Stewart Cink	11	T3 (2007)	54
He closed with a 66 to finish three behind Phil Mickelson in '07 but otherwise his PLAYERS record is spotty with no other top 20s.
25	Zach Johnson	4	T8 (2005)	6
Forget that triple bogey-bogey debacle Sunday. He won in Hawaii and held the lead entering the final round in Charlotte. Need we say more?
27	Justin Leonard	14	1st (1998)	49
Leonard has had an odd PLAYERS career -- his win is his only finish higher than 21st and he's missed his last four cuts.
28	Nick Watney	2	T63 (2008)	4
Watney is a different player than the one who flirted with a second MC here last year. He's won once in '09 and went toe-to-toe with Phil Mickelson at Doral before finishing second.
29	Adam Scott	7	1st (2004)	61
The Aussie's smooth swing appears to have deserted him -- he hasn't shot in the 60s on TOUR since the second week in January and he's missed his last four cuts.
30	Ian Poulter	5	T21 (2008)	62
The colorful Englishman tied for fifth in Charlotte against a star-studded field. If he wants to take his place among the game's best -- this would be a good place to start.
31	K.J. Choi	7	T16 (2006)	57
After a solid start that included a tie for third in L.A., Choi has missed four of his last five cuts and only broken 70 once in his last 16 rounds.
32	Justin Rose	5	T39 (1993)	120
The steady Englishman is still looking for his first top 10 this year and with missed cuts in his last three PLAYERS starts this week might not be the one.
33	Robert Allenby	12	T4 (2003)	60
He hasn't cracked the top 30 at THE PLAYERS since 2003 but the Aussie has been steady this season.
34	Ross Fisher	N/A	N/A	N/A
A strong performance at Quail Hollow last week should give the Englishman a boost of confidence in his PLAYERS debut.
36	Jeev Milka Singh	N/A	N/A	N/A
The quiet man from India posted his best finish in the U.S. at Doral two months ago but is still looking to build on that success.
37	Ben Curtis	5	T42 (2008)	89
History that includes our missed cuts and a tie for 42nd at THE PLAYERS doesn't exactly inspire confidence.
39	Tim Clark	6	T21 (2003)	38
He hits fairways and greens, just like the 2005 PLAYERS champion Fred Funk. Could this be his breakthrough?
40	Trevor Immelman	3	MC	91
Given his history at TPC Sawgrass, this might not be his week unless Immelman can find a way to hit those tiny greens.
41	Chad Campbell	6	T6 (2003)	33
Play like he did at Augusta National and the Texan could make his sixth TOUR win a big one.
42	Rory Sabbatini	9	T27 (2008)	29
Six top 20s -- including a tie for second in New Orleans this year -- might help erase the memory of those six missed cuts at THE PLAYERS.
43	Oliver Wilson	N/A	N/A	N/A
Wilson is still looking for his first European Tour win, but he did post top-10s in the first two World Golf Championships.
44	Dustin Johnson	1	MC (2009)	12
A big-hitter who also hits a lot of greens, Johnson picked up his second win earlier this year and could contend.
45	Hunter Mahan	3	T18 (2007)	36
He hasn't missed a cut all year and tied for 10th at the Masters. Could this be the week he takes the next step?
46	Soren Kjeldson	N/A	N/A	N/A
A win at the Open de Andalucia is the bright spot in 2009 for the 33-year-old Dane.
47	Graeme McDowell	1	T40 (2005)	N/A
The Northern Irishman has only missed one cut this year but he hasn't come close to duplicating his 2008 success when he won twice.
48	Andres Romero	1	MC (2008)	81
Romero turns 28th this week, but hasn't had much to celebrate lately with 3 MCs, 1 DQ and two finishes in the 40s.
49	Thongchai Jaidee	N/A	N/A	N/A
The veteran from Thailand won his fourth European Tour event two weeks ago so he enters his first PLAYERS with confidence.
50	Stephen Ames	10	1st (2006)	70
His 2009 season hasn't been anything to write home about but with a PLAYERS win, runner-up and fifth last year, Ames has figured out the Stadium course.
51	Davis Love III	23	1st (1992, 2003)	26
If Love is to become the first three-time PLAYERS champ, he'll need to do better than the 74s he's shot on the last three Sundays.
52	Mathew Goggin	3	T12 (2007)	42
The Aussie hits fairways and greens but his putter has let him down -- one club he needs to be working this week.
53	J.B. Holmes	3	T10 (2008)	31
The big-hitter lost a playoff in Houston but hasn't made a cut in the two weeks since. At least he has a comfort zone at the Stadium.
54	Brian Gay	7	T32 (2008)	8
He won by 10 in his last start -- something tells me Gay comes to Ponte Vedra with confidence.
58	Pat Perez	6	T6 (2005)	13
His first TOUR win came earlier this year, but he's been relatively quiet since.
59	Aaron Baddeley	5	T32 (2008)	67
The Aussie's first TOUR win came on a Pete Dye layout but he hasn't had much success at TPC Sawgrass
60	Stuart Appleby	12	T14 (1997)	101
It's been feast or famine for Appleby at THE PLAYERS with five top 25s and an equal number of missed cuts.
61	David Toms	16	T12 (2001)	21
He's already won more money than he did in last year's uncharacteristic sub-par season. Four top-10s are cause for optimism, too.
62	Kevin Sutherland	11	T6 (2005)	59
He's nothing if not consistent but Sutherland has yet to post a top-10 this year after six last year.
63	Boo Weekley	2	T21 (2008)	50
Both his wins have come on the same Pete Dye layout. How long before this steady ball-strike figures out the most famous of his creations?
66	Rod Pampling	6	T27 (2005)	82
Finding fairways hasn't been his forte this year but it sure makes the Stadium Course play easier.
70	Lucas Glover	3	MC (2006-08)	16
He exorcised some demons last week in finishing second in Charlotte. Maybe that confidence will change his luck at Sawgrass.
72	Ben Crane	4	T6 (2008)	48
The first three months of the year were good to him, but he's missed the cut in three of his last four starts, including the last two.
74	Ryuji Imada	3	T68 (2007)	58
After a breakout season in 2008 that included a first TOUR win, the Georgia product is still looking to put four good rounds together.
75	D.J. Trahan	3	T51 (2008)	41
The Clemson grad hasn't been able to sustain the hot start that saw him post two top-10s in his first five starts.
76	Dudley Hart	13	T25 (1998)	154
Red-hot during last year's Playoffs, Hart hasn't been able to recapture the magic in 2009.
77	Bubba Watson	2	MC (2007, 2008)	32
He called Sunday's battle to a runner-up finish his best day ever on a golf course. The confidence should serve him well this week.
79	Scott Verplank	16	T2 (2005)	66
Verplank's steady game would have seemed well-suited to the Stadium Course but he's only had two top-10s there.
80	Charles Howell III	7	T32 (2003)	14
He's tied for second twice in his last six starts but missed the cut in Charlotte and could use some improvement with his putter.
81	Jerry Kelly	13	4th (2001)	19
That win in New Orleans broke a seven-year victory drought but it was no fluke -- he's got two other top-10s this year.
83	Fred Couples	25	1st (1984, 1996)	65
The U.S. Presidents Cup captain tied for third in L.A. and Houston where his history is strong. Will The Stadium offer another chance?
84	Charlie Wi	1	T63 (2008)	30
Wi has been a factor several times this year with four top-15 finishes.
85	John Rollins	6	T8 (2006)	20
A solid ball-striker, Rollins has two runner-ups this year. Can he get his third TOUR win this week?
87	Briny Baird	6	4th (2008)	29
Baird tied for second in his last start in Hilton Head. Can he carry that success to another Pete Dye layout?
90	Carl Pettersson	5	T8 (2006)	122
The normally steady Swede hasn't broken par or made a cut in his last six starts
91	Woody Austin	10	T16 (2004)	85
His first missed cut of the season last week couldn't have sat well with the 45-year-old who always seems so hard on himself.
94	Charley Hoffman	2	T75 (2008)	17
The blond bomber should have confidence after taking Kenny Perry to a playoff at the FBR Open and posting six other top-20s.
95	Rocco Mediate	19	3rd (2002)	112
The popular 46-year-old has yet to miss a cut in 2009 but he's also still looking for his first top-10.
96	Fredrik Jacobson	5	T22 (2006)	108
That tie for 11th against a quality field last week in Charlotte should be a confidence builder for the Swede.
100	Mark Wilson	2	T48 (2008)	44
It's been feast or famine for Wilson this year with a win in Mexico and five missed cuts in 10 starts.
101	John Merrick	1	T27 (2008)	23
Three top-10s this year, including second at the Hope and a tie for sixth at the Masters, show this young pro has game.
102	Scott Piercy	N/A	N/A	45
One of three Nationwide Tour grads making PLAYERS debuts, he's already got five top-20s in 2009.
103	Steve Flesch	10	T38 (2000)	103
He can play Augusta National -- posting his second straight top-six last year -- but TPC Sawgrass has given the leftie fits.
104	Steve Marino	2	MC (2007, 2008)	37
It's not if, but when this UVA product will win. Maybe not this week, though -- he's never shot lower than 77 at the Stadium.
106	Nick O'Hern	4	T24 (2005)	76
He's made two cuts but only broken 70 once at Sawgrass. Maybe a pairing with Tiger Woods would help.
109	Kevin Na	3	T54 (2008)	25
Four top-10s and three more top-25s in his first nine starts were attention-getting -- but he had to withdraw last week with a nagging neck injury.
112	Bart Bryant	6	T42 (2008)	121
He tied for fourth in Puerto Rico but hasn't finished higher than 31st in nine other starts.
113	Ken Duke	2	T37 (2007)	110
The success of his last two seasons has eluded him this year -- Duke hasn't finished higher than 26th.
114	John Senden	6	T22 (2005)	47
The Aussie's already posted a couple of top-10s this year but his scoring average at the Stadium Course is 72.67
117	Brett Quigley	6	T6 (2008)	35
He's cooled off after a red-hot stretch that saw Quigley tie for second in successive weeks. Maybe the return to Florida will help.
120	Matt Kuchar	4	T16 (2004)	64
He's putting well, which should help this week, but he's also coming off two missed cuts.
126	Paul Goydos	10	2nd (2008)	142
He earned a ton of fans last year in taking Sergio Garcia to a playoff but he hasn't given them much to cheer about in '09.
128	Jeff Quinney	2	3rd (2008)	168
His '09 season has been lackluster but Quinney has finished in the top-6 in both of his PLAYERS appearances.
132	Y.E. Yang	N/A	N/A	18
The 37-year-old Korean was a surprise winner at The Honda Classic but two top-20s since, including a tie for 11th on a major-league course last week, show it was no fluke.
133	George McNeill	1	MC (2008)	68
He shot 75 in the penultimate group last Sunday with Tiger Woods but still tied for 18th and learned a ton.
135	Jonathan Byrd	6	T16 (2007)	69
A well-timed putting tip from his brother propelled Byrd to his best finish of the season in a tie for fifth in Charlotte.
139	Tommy Armour III	11	T31 (1998)	105
The Texan turns 50 in October but two top-13s in his last three starts show he can still play with the young guys.
141	Heath Slocum	6	T44 (2007)	118
He tied for third in Mexico but hasn't finished better than 33rd otherwise this season.
152	Jeff Klauk	N/A	N/A	40
This TOUR rookie, who already has three top 20s, has an advantage as he makes his PLAYERS debut -- his father was the course super at TPC Sawgrass and he grew up playing here.
154	Billy Mayfair	19	T5 (2001)	197
Don't look for much -- he started the season with five missed cuts and has missed his last three as well.
157	Daniel Chopra	4	T40 (2005)	123
He wasn't feeling particularly well early in the year so Chopra, who tied for eighth at Bay Hill, is still trying to hit his stride.
161	John Mallinger	2	T64 (2007)	67
A tie for sixth in Houston is the highlight of a solid year but he's yet to break par at the Stadium.
163	Ryan Moore	2	T27 (2008)	88
He comes in off a missed cut in Charlotte, but three top-20s in a workmanlike season are positives.
169	Jason Bohn	3	T27 (2006)	139
Bohn followed a T6 in Houston with three missed cuts and comes to the Stadium looking for his first sub-par round.
174	Bob Estes	18	T17 (2005)	51
Another consistent year for the Texan, he's got five top-20s, including a share of fourth at Pebble Beach.
176	Cameron Beckman	5	T26 (2004)	79
He'll need to rely on his solid putter as he plays the Stadium Course for the first time in five years.
178	Tim Herron	13	T6 (2005)	115
Ironically, this Minnesota guy's best finish came in his first start in Hawaii when the temperature back home was in single digits. He's missed his last two cuts.
181	Johnson Wagner	1	T54 (2008)	152
He finished 10th on Maui but has missed eight cuts in his last 11 starts, including last week in Charlotte where he makes his home.
182	Peter Lonard	6	T6 (2007)	179
It's been more famine than feast for the Aussie, who followed his season's best tie for 48th with his seventh and eighth missed cut.
183	Matt Bettencourt	N/A	N/A	162
The Nationwide Tour's 2008 leading money winner has found the going more difficult in '09 with last week's T22 in Charlotte his best.
184	Dean Wilson	4	T10 (2008)	109
He left the Stadium on a high note last year after shooting 69 -- his career low on the Pete Dye layout.
185	J.J. Henry	7	T42 (2008)	55
He finished second in Mexico to polish off a strong start to the season but he comes to Florida on the heels of two missed cuts.
186	Nicholas Thompson	1	T21 (2008)	100
The 26-year-old's PLAYERS debut was a good one -- and would have been even better had it not been for Sunday's 74.
191	Bo Van Pelt	4	T8 (2006)	52
After missing three cuts in his first four starts, Van Pelt has been steady Eddie with three top-20s in his last six starts.
194	Will MacKenzie	1	MC (2007)	116
This free spirit has earned the bulk of his FedExCup points in two events -- a tie for 12th in Hawaii and fifth at The Honda Classic.
198	Marc Turnesa	N/A	N/A	165
Turnesa comes to Ponte Vedra after missing three cuts and withdrawing due to a neck injury last week.
202	Scott McCarron	11	T35 (1998)	134
He probably doesn't have the length to prosper at THE PLAYERS, but the UCLA grad thrilled the crowd at Riviera in tying for 10th.
206	Tim Petrovic	5	T15 (2008)	86
After a string of six straight missed cuts, the New Englander has tied for eighth, 11th and fifth in his last three starts -- he could surprise.
207	Jeff Overton	1	MC (2008)	63
He's been streaky this year and appears on the upswing -- he finished 13th in New Orleans and was solid last week until a 75 on Sunday.
210	Cliff Kresge	3	T28 (2007)	94
When he has made the cut, Kresge seems to have been one round away from a really good finish.
211	Troy Matteson	2	T73 (2007)	102
He'll want to improve on last year's PLAYERS weekend performance when he shot 80-81.
213	Brian Davis	4	T20 (2008)	98
He ranks 156th in greens in regulation -- which doesn't bode well for these tiny greens and will put pressure on his short game.
214	Ryan Palmer	3	T75 (2007)	139
He's been struggling this year with just one top-20, and his scoring average at Sawgrass isn't inspiring at 75.13.
215	Michael Allen	4	T27 (2005)	128
He hits roughly 65 percent of his fairways and greens but he's had trouble betting the ball in the hole.
218	Jason Dufner	N/A	N/A	39
The first alternate got into his first PLAYERS when Brandt Snedeker withdrew and he comes with confidence after top-10s in his last two starts, including a tie for fifth in Charlotte.
221	Todd Hamilton	5	T54 (2008)	90
An admittedly streaky player, the 2004 Open champion was encouraged by a tie for 15th at the Masters and fourth the following week. Did the missed cut at Quail Holllow start another streak, though?
227	Parker McLachlin	N/A	N/A	151
His swing adjustments are beginning to come around and a new shaft in his driver has McLachlin encouraged.
228	Bill Haas	2	T72 (2007)	84
A big hitter, unlike his father, Haas still manages to find a lot of greens but it's his putter hasn't always cooperated. Maybe Sunday's tie for 22nd will get him back on track.
229	Michael Campbell	7	T11 (2002)	N/A
The 2005 U.S. Open champion has had a rough go of it this year -- he hasn't made a cut on the European Tour.
230	Michael Letzig	N/A	N/A	113
Letzig, who turns 28 on Thursday, has been steady this year, making 11 straight cuts before leaving Quail Hollow early last week.
232	Tom Pernice Jr.	9	T27 (2006)	124
Another average hitter who will need to depend on his short game -- Pernice has a scoring average of 73.92 at Sawgrass.
239	Steve Lowery	15	T6 (1994)	107
Lowery's best finish came in his PLAYERS debut, and he's had nothing better than a tie for 24th this season.
240	Nathan Green	3	T16 (2007)	138
Of the eight stats that comprise the TOUR's all-around ranking, the only one he doesn't hit triple digits in is sand save percentage -- not a good sign.
245	Richard S. Johnson	3	T27 (2006)	74
He prospered on the West Coast but hasn't finished higher than 33rd since the TOUR moved East with his most recent two missed cuts.
250	Steve Elkington	18	1st (1997, 1991)	193
The Aussie's scoring average of 71.80 ranks eighth all-time at THE PLAYERS -- and fourth among players in the current field -- but he hasn't finished higher than 53rd this year.
257	Michael Bradley	6	T14 (1997)	83
The 42-year-old, who is making his first start at THE PLAYERS in a decade, won in Mexico to start his season but has been bothered by a hip injury and only played five rounds since.
260	Tim Wilkinson	1	MC (2008)	144
He tied for sixth at the Verizon Heritage so maybe that will give him confidence to tackle this Pete Dye layout.
265	Vaughn Taylor	4	T8 (2006)	95
Taylor hasn't broken 75 in his last four rounds at THE PLAYERS and missed both cuts after that career-high finish two years ago.
267	Alex Cejka	3	T12 (2005)	119
No triskaidekaphobia for Cejka. He's tied for 13th three times this year.
269	Joe Ogilvie	5	T32 (2005)	114
He's average in length but he ranks 14th in putting and eighth in putts per round. Getting to those tiny greens will be key.
270	Chez Reavie	N/A	N/A	153
Reavie, who has missed his last five cuts, is making his PLAYERS debut -- which is not a good place to find your game.
281	Greg Kraft	8	T10 (2008)	174
Seven missed cuts in 10 starts this season doesn't exactly inspire confidence.
291	Corey Pavin	24	T3 (1995)	169
The U.S. Ryder Cup captain isn't a big hitter and he ranks 182nd in greens in regulation -- not a good combination at the Stadium Course.
300	Brad Adamonis	N/A	N/A	129
He started the season with a top-10 in Hawaii but hasn't finished higher than 32nd since.
319	Martin Laird	N/A	N/A	176
The Scotsman, who is making his PLAYERS debut, hits the ball a long way but he has only made three cuts this year.
384	Eric Axley	1	MC (2007)	184
He missed his eighth cut in 13 starts in Charlotte last week and hasn't finished higher than 44th in a season where his putter is his only saving grace.
658	Fred Funk	18	1st (2005)	N/R
The bubbly 52-year-old has a pair of top-10s in four Champions Tour events this year, but he hasn't cashed a check in two on the PGA TOUR.
N/A	D.A. Weibring	18	2nd (1985)	N/A
Weibring earned his spot in the field by winning last year's Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship.