This week's field includes:
- The field includes 48 of the top 50 in the latest Official World Golf Rankings. The only top players not playing is Justin Rose, who is still injuried and Shingo Katayama.
- Same story in the way the field includes 49 of the top 50 of this years PGA Tour money list. Again, Justin Rose the only one not in the field.
- The field includes 8 past champions: Stephen Ames (2006), Fred Funk (2005), Adam Scott (2004), Davis Love III (2003 & 1992), Craig Perk (2002), Tiger Woods (2001), Justin Leonard (1998) and Steve Elkington (1997 & '91).
A perfect way for fantasy golfers to check on the past performance of all the players in The Players field are these performance charts, one with the players listed alphabetically and the other with the players listed by average finish.
One last way to check who is the best is through a special formula worked out in Golfstats that gives us the best average performances at The Players in the last four years.
Time to look at our who's hot and who isn't:
| Who's Hot: (Those with *** are in the Players field) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Wachovia | EDS Nelson | Zurich | Heritage | Masters | Shell Houston | WGC-CA | BAY Hill | PODS | Honda | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ***Tiger Woods | Win | DNP | DNP | DNP | T2 | DNP | Win | T22 | DNP | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Zach Johnson | 84 | DNP | DNP | 6 | Win | DNP | T9 | T42 | T14 | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Rory Sabbatini | T3 | T3 | DNP | DNP | T2 | DNP | T35 | Cut | DNP | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Vijay Singh | T7 | T13 | DNP | DNP | T13 | DNP | T11 | Win | T19 | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Jerry Kelly | T43 | T3 | DNP | T8 | T5 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Phil Mickelson | T3 | T3 | DNP | DNP | T24 | DNP | T23 | T36 | DNP | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Ken Duke | T7 | T7 | 2 | T10 | DNP | T49 | DNP | DNP | T38 | Cut | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Calcavecchia | DNP | DNP | T5 | T23 | T20 | DNP | T32 | T28 | Win | Cut | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anthony Kim | T5 | T51 | T3 | T36 | DNP | T5 | DNP | DNP | T14 | T46 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Luke Donald | Cut | 2 | DNP | DNP | T10 | DNP | T26 | 8 | DNP | T46 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Retief Goosen | T43 | DNP | DNP | DNP | T2 | DNP | T58 | T18 | DNP | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Vaughn Taylor | Cut | DNP | DNP | T4 | T10 | T27 | DNP | 3 | T48 | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Scott Verplank | Cut | Win | DNP | T59 | T30 | DNP | DNP | T18 | DNP | Cut | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Boo Weekley | T43 | DNP | Cut | Win | DNP | Cut | DNP | T14 | Cut | T2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Steve Stricker | 2 | DNP | T11 | DNP | Cut | T9 | T35 | DNP | Cut | T5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Adam Scott | T24 | DNP | DNP | DNP | T27 | Win | T61 | DNP | DNP | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Padraig Harrington | T43 | DNP | DNP | DNP | T7 | T24 | T19 | DNP | DNP | T13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Ian Poulter | Cut | T3 | DNP | DNP | T13 | DNP | T16 | DNP | DNP | T46 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Stuart Appleby | WD | Cut | DNP | DNP | T7 | T2 | T35 | T45 | Cut | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Geoff Ogilvy | T24 | DNP | DNP | DNP | T24 | DNP | T3 | T14 | DNP | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Nick Watney | T24 | Cut | Win | DNP | DNP | T42 | DNP | Cut | T48 | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Lucas Glover | T34 | DNP | T8 | Cut | T20 | Cut | T26 | DNP | T4 | T62 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Stewart Cink | T5 | DNP | DNP | T50 | T17 | DNP | T45 | T32 | DNP | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***John Rollins | T56 | T19 | DNP | DNP | T20 | DNP | T28 | T5 | T19 | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Justin Rose | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T5 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***David Toms | DNP | DNP | T44 | DNP | T9 | T27 | T45 | DNP | DNP | T20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Ernie Els | T34 | DNP | DNP | 2 | Cut | DNP | T11 | T18 | DNP | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Who's Not Hot: (Those with *** are in the Wachovia field) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Wachovia | Nelson | Zurich | Heritage | Masters | Shell Houston | WGC-CA | BAY Hill | Pods | Honda | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ***Todd Hamilton | Cut | Cut | DNP | Cut | Cut | DNP | DNP | Cut | Cut | Cut | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Corey Pavin | Cut | Cut | DNP | Cut | DNP | DNP | DNP | Cut | Cut | Cut | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Daisuke Maruyama | Cut | Cut | Cut | Cut | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | Cut | WD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Robert Gamez | T69 | Cut | Cut | Cut | DNP | Cut | DNP | T28 | Cut | Cut | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Paul Gow | DNP | Cut | Wd | DNP | DNP | Cut | DNP | DNP | Cut | Cut | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Craig Perks | Cut | Cut | Cut | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | WD | Cut | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Who to Watch for at The Players:
Best Bets:
| Tiger Woods | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T22 | T53 | T16 | T11 | T14 | Win | 2 | T10 | T35 | T31 | - |
I give him a 4 in 1 chance of winning. Does have a win here and that came the week after a victory, so maybe there is something to this. Still he is better than anybody else, just has to keep the ball in play and putt reasonably well to win.
| Henrik Stenson | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Europe's big hope for a major, he should be a winner at The Players because he hits it big and hits lots of greens, just remember the last three winners were first in greens hit.
| Phil Mickelson | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T14 | T40 | T3 | - | T28 | T33 | Cut | T32 | T8 | Cut | T33 |
Could this be the week? Seems to have improved every time he plays, if there is a lack of wind this week he will contend.
Best of the rest:
| Padraig Harrington | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cut | T63 | 2 | T2 | T22 | T33 | - | - | - | - | - |
Says he is rusty but look for him to have a great week. It seems impossible for him to win but he seems to like 2nd at this event, he could make it his third one.
| Jim Furyk | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T3 | Cut | - | T4 | T14 | T21 | T61 | T17 | T35 | T53 | T13 |
Yes he hasn't been playing just right this year but you know that he will work it out. Loves to play her, has a home nearby would love to win it in front of his friends
| Vijay Singh | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T8 | T12 | T13 | Cut | Cut | 2 | T33 | T20 | T54 | T3 | T8 |
Another of those players that will have a "home game" advantage. Lives right now the block, he is always practicing when at home. Likes the course also, has had some poor finishes which has prevented him from winning.
| Adam Scott | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T53 | T8 | Win | T17 | Cut | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Has proven that he can win here, don't be surprise to see it happen again. Of all the important events, he seems to play this the best and always gets into contention.
| Geoff Ogilvy | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cut | Cut | T16 | T21 | Cut | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Look for the change to May to be the big plus for him to get him on top of the leaderboard in an event that he has floundered at before.
Longshot's that could come through:
| Steve Stricker | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | Cut | Cut | T19 | Cut | Cut | T6 | T51 | Cut | Cut |
Normally his record would scare us away but he has played well of late plus in looking at his TPC Sawgrass record he did finish T6th in 1999 which gives us a bit of hope that he can do well this week.
| Luke Donald | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cut | T2 | Cut | Cut | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Yes he has missed the cut three of the four times he played here but he also finished T2nd so that levels it out.
| Ernie Els | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T8 | T17 | T26 | - | T44 | Cut | T20 | T17 | T11 | T10 | T8 |
Has had some great moments on this course, yes you have to wonder what's up with the surprise visit to check on his back. Still he needs a big confidence boast and this could help him.
| Anthony Kim | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | Playing in his first Players | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
having a great year, topping it off with a win this week would be great for him. Look for another good week with him possibly contending. \
| Zach Johnson | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T58 | T8 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Would love to win this which would be a perfect bookend for his Masters win. In his two starts has had it rolling until he shot poor final rounds
Forget about him, he has too many other problems at the moment:
| Chris DiMarco | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | Cut | Cut | T21 | T36 | T55 | Cut | T46 | - | - | - |
Just hasn't been able to get it rolling. Look for some more of the same on a really tough course for him.
Forget about him, he will be gone by Friday evening:
| Darren Clarke | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20 | T63 | T28 | T6 | Cut | T26 | Cut | T71 | Cut | - | - |
Not only is his game in the dumper so is the way he feels. While horsing around with his son, he was tackled and pulled some hamstrings making things more complex. He won't be around for the weekend.
