The Players tees off today at TPC Sawgrass and the PGA Tour would "love nothing better" than golf fans to refer to this week's tournament "as a major." The Tour has "done everything it can" to make the event "major-worthy." The tournament's $9.5M purse is the biggest in golf, 19% larger than the $8M purses "the four 'other' majors offer." The Players has "a stronger field than the majors." All 30 of the world top 30 will be in this week's field, as well as 45 of the top 50 (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/7).
Golfer Graeme McDowell said of the tournament:“Typically, guys stay away from golf courses they don't like and don't play well on apart from maybe ones like this where it's such a huge purse, such a prestigious event, the unofficial fifth major event and stuff” (ESPN.com, 5/8).
Meanwhile, fans will "have an opportunity to ditch their personal mobile device and rent a 'FanVision' PDA this weekend." The device, "which is slightly larger than a mobile phone, is available at The Players for the first time, allowing fans to enjoy a live video and audio broadcast of the entire tournament" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 5/9).
