Players Championship: It doesn't matter if the Players Championship has an oversized opinion of itself, of its place in the golfing world. In truth, it doesn't matter if it is a major, or ever will be.

What matters is that this tournament - with a bulging purse of $8 million - is one that players badly want to win in its own right, and the fact the fickle mistress of a course that is the TPC at Sawgrass has consistently rejected the advances of those perceived to be the world's top players in recent years simply adds to its allure.

Yesterday, as the flags of the 19 different nationalities represented in the field blew in the wind by the soon-to-be demolished clubhouse, a structure that will be replaced by a more grand edifice commensurate with the event's desire for increased stature, the focus finally switched from its entitlement to be considered as a major to the more immediate concern of who would or could win . . . and whether or not Tiger Woods, the world's number one player, and the dominant performer so far this season, would even tee it up.

Normally, in the days before a tournament, Woods would play at the crack of dawn and have completed his practice round before many of his competitors had even donned their golf shoes. Yesterday, though, Woods was conspicuous by his absence.

A brief statement from his manager, Mark Steinberg, informed: "Tiger Woods was off site today for personal reasons, but intends to be back in time for his first-round tee time."

It is believed Woods - who played a practice round with Jason Gore on Tuesday - flew out to California to visit his father, Earl, who has been in ill health for some time and who suffered a relapse in recent days.

Woods Snr suffered prostate cancer in 1998 and, two years ago, was diagnosed with lesions on his back and a tumour behind his eye. He had previously suffered heart-related problems.

While Woods was expected to return to Florida to be able to play, one player conceded defeat in his bid to achieve fitness. Chris DiMarco, the world's number 11-ranked player, sustained a rib muscle injury while on a family holiday in Colorado last week and aggravated it while practising for the Players. He withdrew yesterday on medical advice.

Colombia's Camillo Villegas, the first alternate, has taken DiMarco's place in a field.

Still and all, it remains the strongest field in any strokeplay tournament anywhere so far this year. Yet, somewhat bizarrely, only two of the world's current top 10 have ever won here: Woods in 2001 and Adam Scott in 2004. In other years, it has produced what Phil Mickelson attested were "interesting winners", the most unexpected being Craig Perks in 2002.

"This is not power golf, you don't take on the golf course like you do at other major events," remarked Vijay Singh, in attempting to explain why so many of the world's top players have failed to win this particular title. Apart from Woods, the next seven players in the official world rankings - Singh, Retief Goosen, Mickelson, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, David Toms and Jim Furyk - have failed to meet their own expectations.

A similar failing, it must be said, has befallen the leading European players with only Sandy Lyle, in 1987, laying claim to the title.

Still, Luke Donald's runner-up finish to Fred Funk a year ago and Padraig Harrington's back-to-back second places in 2003 and 2004 to Davis Love and Adam Scott respectively would indicate a turning of the tide in terms of the European challenge at this tournament.

Indeed, the past few weeks have been good for those Europeans campaigning in America. Donald won the Honda Classic two weeks ago, and showed his mental toughness when, within minutes of winning, being able to decline a phone invitation from Arnold Palmer to play in last week's Bay Hill Invitational where Greg Owen was runner-up and Darren Clarke was third.

Clarke is one of three Irish players in the field here - along with Harrington and Paul McGinley - and believes he has "found my game a little bit . . . I haven't played an awful lot this year and whenever I have played, I haven't played particularly well (until Bay Hill). As long as I can play the way I did on Saturday on Bay Hill. That course was tough. The flags were tough. It was wet. The rough was up and the greens were firm and to shoot 63 on that course - I think it was the best score of the day by four shots. It was a very good score and that has me looking forward to this week."

Although he has only one top 10 in eight previous appearances at Sawgrass, Clarke - who has been paired along with Woods - believes his knowledge of the course will help.

"You don't see many guys come here for the first time and do very well. It's a course you have to play a bit, and know where you can afford to miss the greens. Anybody can win this week."

Indeed, it is a course that can't be overpowered by the big hitters; and which allows those who rely on accuracy and distance control to have as much of a chance.

Maybe Donald, buoyed by his win in the Honda and with a close call here a year ago, could be the man. Certainly, his expectations have risen.

"The goal is to set my sights a lot higher and strive to become the best player in the world," said Donald.

Are you listening Tiger?