Francesco Molinari made us dream last week, dominating the Wells Fargo Championship for the first two rounds. This week he tries again and the appointment is much more prestigious, it's about The Players, one of the best races of the tour. It is not a major or even a world championship, yet it occupies a unique place in the American golf circuit, so much so that it is considered the "fifth" grand slam tournament. The challenge begins today and ends Sunday, takes place over 72 holes, strokes, and has been played for about 40 years at the Tpc Sawgrass Golf Club, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida; since 1982 the track chosen has been the Stadium Course. The prize pool is stellar: $10,5 million, $1,890 million of which goes to first place. Up for grabs, in addition to a series of exemptions, there are also 600 points for the FedexCup, as many as a major guarantees. Unlike the four grand slam tournaments, however, The Players Championship is a delicacy that belongs only to the US circuit and not to the European one.
There are 147 players on the field, among them 47 of the top 50 in the Fedex ranking. All the best in the world are at the tees, starting with number one Dustin Johnson, the big favourite. The 32-year-old, a South Carolina native, appeared in top form at Wells Fargo, where he even came close to winning after a slow-motion start. Anyone who thought that the fall down the stairs, with back pain, before the Masters, put him out of action for the entire season, think again. Dustin Johnson is in perfect physical and mental shape and seems intent on defending his leadership for a long time. Let's hope that the Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, fresh from the new Taylor Made gear, finally shows off grit and talent in quantity and gives a hard time to his American rival, who precedes him in the world order of merit. Sergio Garcia, the Spanish champion who has finally grabbed a major after a twenty-year chase, is back on track after his Masters triumph. Sergio loves this course, where he has already won in 2008 and where, several times, he has been in the running for first place. Who knows if he won't be able to score a brace for very few before getting married in July.
The list of big names who can aspire to the podium is long and includes, among others, the reigning champion, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Phil Mickelson, Hideki Matsuyama. The Basque Jon Rahm is making his debut in this race and has already shown wonders this season.
