Golf: World's best for Players' Championship

The event widely regarded as golf's unofficial fifth major has attracted the world's top 50 players to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, this week.

Leading the title contenders in the first round today on one of the world's most demanding courses will be the "big four" of Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson, all with wins in the bag this season.

"This is our [the players'] championship," said Woods, who won the title in 2001. "People call it the fifth major and it takes that kind of mentality and that kind of perseverance to win at Sawgrass.

"It's a great tournament, with probably one of the strongest fields we'll have all year."

If a US$8 million ($11.07 million) purse was not enough to stoke competitive fires, the No 1 world ranking could change hands for the third time this season, adding even more spice to the week.

Separated by fractions in the rankings, No 2 Woods and No 3 Els could leave on Monday with the top spot that Singh reclaimed with a second-place finish at last week's Bay Hill Invitational.