Players making last-minute run to qualify for THE PLAYERS Championship

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- The field for THE PLAYERS Championship will be nearly finalized following this week's EDS Byron Nelson Championship, where players have a chance to move up the Official World Golf Ranking or FedExCup points list in order to qualify for the May 5-11 event. Players in the top 50 of the World Ranking or top 10 in the FedExCup points standings on Monday, April 28, will help round out THE PLAYERS field. In addition, if the winner of the EDS Byron Nelson Championship or next week's Wachovia Championship is not already qualified, he will gain entry into THE PLAYERS.

Parker McLachlin is among the players in the field at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship hoping to qualify for THE PLAYERS Championship. (Greenwood/Getty Images)

So far, 136 players are already qualified for THE PLAYERS, mainly via their position on the 2007 FedExCup point list (top 30), the 2007 PGA TOUR money list (top 125), or by winning a PGA TOUR event since the last PLAYERS. See the attached chart for players currently qualified.

Sixty-eight players competing in this week's EDS Byron Nelson Championship are looking for a win in order to make THE PLAYERS field, including TOUR veterans like 1995 U.S. Open champion Corey Pavin, Ponte Vedra Beach resident Frank Lickliter II and 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup Team Captain Paul Azinger. Pavin has competed in every PLAYERS since his rookie season in 1984, a streak of 24 years, and Lickliter is looking to make his 10th-consecutive appearance. On the other side of the coin, rookies like Jason Day, Matt Jones and Kevin Streelman are looking for a win this week in order to make their first PLAYERS field. So far this season, Greg Kraft, Steve Lowery and Andres Romero have won a PGA TOUR event to qualify for THE PLAYERS.

Mark Brown and Graeme McDowell are competing in this week's BMW Asian Open on the European Tour, and a good finish could move them into the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Brown is currently 58th, just ahead of McDowell at 59th, and both are hoping to join players like Lee Westwood (No. 20), Niclas Fasth (No. 24), Martin Kaymer (No. 31), Miguel A. Jiminez (No. 41), Toru Taniguchi (No. 44), Robert Karlsson (No. 48), Soren Hansen (No. 49) and Nick Dougherty (No. 50) who can qualify by maintaining their positions within the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking.

Limited tickets to the 2008 PLAYERS are still available through the Click-n-Print program, which allows fans to go to the official tournament Web site and print purchased tickets at home on 8.5"x11" paper. A unique bar code allows fans to present their printed tickets at any gate and enter the tournament, eliminating the need to wait in line at Will Call to pick up tickets purchased in advance. Tickets are also on sale through participating, local Publix Super Markets or by calling 904-285-PUTT (7888).

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