Field for THE PLAYERS finalized

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Matteo Manassero is slated to become the youngest player to tee it up at TPC Sawgrass.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- The field is set for THE PLAYERS 2011 with the passing of Friday's 5 p.m. ET commitment deadline as the world's best will again challenge THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, May 9-15. Only the winner of this week's Wells Fargo Championship, if not otherwise qualified, can gain entry into what is consistently one of the strongest and deepest fields in professional golf.

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Full Field

The field stands at 145 players and features both the top 30 from the final 2010 FedExCup standings as well as the top 30 in the current FedExCup points list.

The field includes every 2011 PGA TOUR winner, a total of 17 different players, and all but one PGA TOUR winner since THE PLAYERS 2010, a total of 40 different players. There are 10 former winners of THE PLAYERS in the field as well as the winners of the last 23 major championships.

Fifty-one of the players headed to TPC Sawgrass hail from outside of the United States and represent 18 different countries, including defending champion Tim Clark of South Africa. Australia leads the way with 12 players in the field, including past champion Adam Scott (2004). Ernie Els, who will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame on Monday, May 9, is one of seven South Africans in the field, joining Clark and two of the past three major championship winners in 2011: Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and 2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen. England will be represented by six players, including 2011 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship winner Luke Donald.

Sweden has five players in the field while Italy has three, including Matteo Manassero, who at 18 years, 20 days (on Monday, May 9) is the youngest player to tee it up in the history of THE PLAYERS. The other countries represented are: Argentina (2), Germany (2), South Korea (2), Spain (2), Canada (1), Colombia (1), Fiji (1), India (1), Ireland (1), Japan (1), Northern Ireland (1), Scotland (1), Venezuela (1) and Zimbabwe (1). These players will look to continue the recent trend of international winners at THE PLAYERS. The last three winners of THE PLAYERS and six of the last 10 have been from outside of the United States.

Fourteen players will make their first appearance at THE PLAYERS in 2011. One of the strongest "rookie" classes at THE PLAYERS in recent memory, the group includes Oosthuizen and 2011 PGA TOUR winners Brendan Steele (Valero Texas Open), Jhonattan Vegas (Bob Hope Classic) and Gary Woodland (Transitions Championship).

Vegas will become the first Venezuelan to compete at THE PLAYERS. Also included in the group is Italy's Manassero, 2009 Nationwide Tour Player of the Year Michael Sim, Josh Teater, Blake Adams, Michael Connell, Edoardo Molinari, Peter Hanson, Tommy Gainey, Chris Kirk, Keegan Bradley and Hunter Haas. The group will gather in the media center on Wednesday, May 11, at 10 a.m. for the annual First-Timers Press Conference.

While Manassero will become the youngest player in the history of THE PLAYERS, Mark O'Meara will be the oldest player in the field for THE PLAYERS 2011, competing at the age of 54 years, 3 months and 27 days (on Monday, May 9). O'Meara earned a spot in the field by virtue of winning the 2010 Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship on the Champions Tour. A 16-time winner on the PGA TOUR, O'Meara will be making his 24th start at THE PLAYERS and first since 2003. He has six top 10s at THE PLAYERS with his best result a 3rd in 1987.

A total of 150 players qualified for THE PLAYERS in 2011. The following players qualified but are not participating --Graham DeLaet (CAN), Steve Elkington (AUS), Tom Gillis (USA), Anders Hansen (DEN), Ryo Ishikawa (JPN), Miguel A. Jimenez (ESP), Kyung-tae Kim (KOR), Jamie Lovemark (USA), Rory McIlroy (NIR), Roland Thatcher (USA) and Lee Westwood (ENG). In order to fill the field to 144 players (not counting Mark O'Meara) the following players qualified via their ranking in the current FedExCup standings: Tommy Gainey (USA), Chris Kirk (USA), Troy Matteson (USA), Keegan Bradley (USA), Hunter Haas (USA) and Brandt Jobe (USA).

Tickets remain available for THE PLAYERS. There are limited weekly clubhouse packages available as well as weekly and daily grounds tickets. Fans are reminded that parking is on site again in 2011 and parking passes must be purchased for competitive rounds (Thursday-Sunday) in advance. Parking on site is free Monday-Wednesday. Parking passes and tickets can be purchased at local Publix locations, the pro shop at TPC Sawgrass or online at www.pgatour.com/theplayers