Notebook: Manassero set to become youngest to compete at PLAYERS

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fl. - Italian Matteo Manassero (No. 33) and Japan's Ryo Ishikawa (No. 44), two of golf's youngest and brightest stars, have qualified for THE PLAYERS after securing their position inside the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Manassero, who has already committed to play, is set to become the youngest player ever to compete at THE PLAYERS. He will be 18 years, 20 days old on Monday, May 9, surpassing Rory McIlory, who was exactly 20 years old when he made his first start at THE PLAYERS in 2009. Ishikawa will be 19 years, 7 months and 22 days on Monday, May 9.

Among the other players to qualify via the OWGR who are expected to compete next week are Italian Francesco Molinari (No. 19), who finished 9th last year, and his brother Edoardo (No. 29). Also qualified are Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez (No. 23) and Alvaro Quiros (No. 27), South Korea's Kyung-tae Kim (No. 37), Sweden's Peter Hanson (No. 45), England's Ross Fisher (No. 47) and Denmark's Anders Hansen (No. 48).

The deadline for players to commit to THE PLAYERS 2011 is 5 p.m. ET this Friday, May 6. Should the field not equal 144 (not including Champions Tour player Mark O'Meara) following the deadline, then the FedExCup standings as of today will be used to fill THE PLAYERS field. Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey, who moved to 23rd thanks to another top-five finish at last week's Zurich Classic of New Orleans, is the highest-ranked player in the FedExCup standings not otherwise qualified for THE PLAYERS, followed by Chris Kirk (No. 34), Troy Matteson (No. 61), Keegan Bradley (No. 62) and Hunter Haas (No. 64).

FAN MEET-UP: For the first time, PGATOUR.COM will host an exclusive fan meet-up for Facebook and Twitter fans of the PGA TOUR and THE PLAYERS on Tuesday, May 10 at The Terrace. Fans who register online and attend will be treated to half-priced drink specials, prize giveaways and special guest appearances from 4-6 p.m. Fans must purchase a practice round ticket for THE PLAYERS ($20 at Publix or PGATOUR.COM/theplayers) to gain access to the grounds and RSVP in advance at http://theplayersfans2011.eventbrite.com. Parking on site is free Monday-Wednesday in the general admission lot located off State Road 210.

The Twitter hashtag for the event is #PGATOURFan. Details leading up to the event will be posted on http://facebook.com/THEPLAYERS and http://twitter.com/PGATOUR.

COMMUNITY PEDS CARE: On Wednesday, May 11 (9:30-11:30 a.m.), the PGA TOUR Wives Association (PTWA), in partnership with the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens and THE PLAYERS, will host children from Community Hospice and Wolfson Children's Hospital for a fun-filled day at the JELD-WEN Stadium Village. This year's "These Kids Can Play! -- Wild Things" Peds Care Event will include a petting zoo and animal show, a craft area, face painting, kids taking their shot at the PwC First Tee Challenge and interaction with PGA TOUR players, wives, Jaxson De Ville and Jacksonville Zoo characters (in costume). Students from the Ponte Vedra Beach High School Drama Department will participate for the second consecutive year as the characters inside the costumes.

This is the fourth year the PTWA has hosted an event for the children and their families at JELD-WEN Stadium Village and approximately 50 families are expected to attend. The event is in conjunction with THE PLAYERS new partnership with the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens to promote educational programming to children on the First Coast.

The PGA TOUR Wives Association was incorporated in 1988 by wives of professional golfers on the PGA TOUR. Since its inception, the Association has raised more than $5 million through its charitable events and volunteer service projects.