Players Championship 2012: Power Ranking Contenders for a Weekend Win

With the 2012 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass this weekend, it’s time to power rank the contenders who will be fighting for a win this weekend.

Youngster Rickie Fowler is coming off his first PGA win, but stars like Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson will look to stop his run and start their own.

All of the following PGA stars will be looking to gain momentum going forward and there is no better way than a huge win at TPC Sawgrass.

1. Rickie Fowler

Rickie Fowler is arguably one of the most promising young talents in golf history, and the PGA loves him because the outlandish outfits he wears draw attention to a sport that needs help reaching younger audiences.

The prodigy finally won his first PGA event last week at the Wells Fargo Championship and looks to carry that momentum to a big second win.

With a clutch shot winning him the tournament, there is a chance that we could be seeing the birth of the next great golfer. If he stays clutch in big moments, there will be no stopping the young star.

2. Rory McIlroy

After skipping this event in 2011, the Irish golfer is ready to prove that he can win at the tough course. He’s willing to put his newly re-acquired World’s No. 1 spot on the line as well.

McIlroy was the one that helped push Rickie Fowler to a playoff in the Wells Fargo Championship, so he is just as how as Fowler coming into this tournament.

Add in a chip on his shoulder after missing the cut the previous two times he tried to play at TPC, and this could be the biggest storyline of the weekend at the Players Championship.

3. Phil Mickelson

While the previous two young golfers are riding performance momentum into this Players Championship, Phil Mickelson is riding the inspiration being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

After being inducted Monday, the star will be getting ready to make his trip to the top of the TPC Sawgrass to make this the perfect week.

If Mickelson could somehow steal this tourney, there is no doubt that Mickelson will prove his Hall of Fame worth, but it will further showcase just how great Lefty really is.

Television Schedule

Round	Date	Time	Channel
Round 1	May 10	1 - 7 p.m.	Golf Channel
Round 2	May 11	1 - 7 p.m.	Golf Channel
Round 3	May 12	12 - 2 p.m.	Golf Channel
		2 - 7 p.m.	NBC
Round 4	May 13	12 - 2 p.m.	Golf Channel
		2 - 7 p.m.	NBC

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