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Harrington hails Sawgrass "best in world"

10/05/2007

Ireland's Padraig Harrington has said the Players' Championship at Sawgrass, which takes place this week, is "the best tournament in the world".

Although the competition is not classed as one of the four majors, it is clear that many of the members of the PGA Tour rate Sawgrass as one of the most challenging courses.

And it is also regarded as one of the best fields of any tournament in the golfing calendar – a clear signal of its popularity among the best players.

"No question it's as close to being the best tournament in the world as could be, except for the fact obviously it doesn't have the heritage of the four majors," said Harrington.

"It's definitely the number one field and the number one test and the most exciting. And the fact that we go back makes it a little bit like Augusta, you're going back continually."

"I'm sure one day we'll be sitting here saying the fifth major.

There was similarly grand praise from world number one Tiger Woods, who said he enjoyed the challenge of the TPC because it was more about skill and less about the length of your drive.

"There really is no advantage to taking out a driver and bombing it down there, because of the trouble obviously, but also how everything pitches in," he said.

"The beauty of this course is that we're all playing [our second shots] from about the same spot."

The Players' Championship begins in Florida today, with the first players due off at 12.20 BST.

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