Players Championship 2012: Top Groups to Watch in First 2 Rounds

The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass is one of the toughest tests all year for the players on tour, and there are going to be some fantastic groups to watch during the first two rounds in 2012.

One of the reasons it's such a tough test is due to the incredibly talented field that shows up every year.

It's unofficially considered to be the "fifth major championship" of the year, and one of the biggest draws for the players is that this tournament features the biggest purse of the year.

I'm going to be keeping an eye on three key groups over the first couple of days—the marquis pairings of the tournament. For a full listing of the groups, visit PGATour.com.

Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker

All three men have the game to win this tournament. They are all among the top 10 in the Official World Golf Rankings, and they should push one another to play at the top of their games.

They have each won a tournament already this year, and between them they have 12 top-10 finishes early this season.

McIlroy is the young gun of the group and has come on strong the last couple of years, but the two older gents may still have a thing or two to teach him on the course.

This group is going to be fun to watch.

Tiger Woods, Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan

Any group that includes Woods is going to be one of the most-watched of the tournament. People are still intrigued by him, even though his game is far from stellar these days.

Woods is coming off of a missed cut at the Wells Fargo Championship and has a lot to prove going forward. 

Fowler and Mahan are unfortunately sort of side notes in this group, but both players are capable of finishing among the leaders, if not capable of winning the tournament outright.

Mahan has already won two tournaments this year—the Shell Houston Open and the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship—and he shouldn't be overlooked.

Fowler is coming off of his first career win last weekend at the Wells Fargo Tournament, and he could ride his momentum to further glory again this week.

The biggest story will always be Tiger, though. Will he rouse from his slumber and dominate the field as in the days of old, or will he continue to struggle? This question alone makes this group worth watching.

Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Bill Haas

This group may not be as flashy as the first two, but these three men are solid golfers with legitimate chances to win the Players Championship.

Donald and Westwood are No. 2 and No. 3 in the Official World Golf Rankings, and for good reason.

Donald won the Transitions Championship in March and has placed in the top 10 in two other tournaments this year. He is a steady golfer and is always a threat to win.

Westwood hasn't won on the PGA tour yet this year, but he has four top-five finishes and is one of the toughest competitors on tour.

Haas rounds out this group, and though he has missed two straight cuts, he did win the Northern Trust Open in February. 

I'll be shocked if all three men fail to crack the top-10 at this year's Players Championship.

Conclusion

This tournament is always one of the highlights of the year for me. The stadium course at Sawgrass gives the fans a chance to get up close and personal with the players, and the 17th hole is one of golf's true treasures.

There are surely other groups that are going to be fun to watch. Heck, the entire field is loaded with talent. That being said, the groups I've featured are going to be the headliners for the first couple of days until the field is set for the weekend.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the show!

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