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Padraig Harrington is the only Irish entry at this week's St. Jude Classic, which will feature five of the PGA TOUR’s current Top 10 money winners and four of the Top 8 players in all-important FedExCup points.
Among the top names are World Golf Hall of Fame member and gallery favourite Phil Mickelson and Tennessee favourite son Brandt Snedeker of Nashville along with defending champion Dustin Johnson.
The field will include winners of 11 TOUR events this year and 26 winners since the start of the 2012 season.
Snedeker, a former Vanderbilt star who grew up in Nashville, currently ranks second in FedExCup standings, second in TOUR earnings for this year, and fifth in the World Golf Rankings. Snedeker is the reigning FedEx Cup champion.
Mickelson, a four-time winner of major championships including three Masters Tournaments, is ranked 11th in the world and seventh in both FedExCup points and TOUR money for 2013.
Among other players joining Padraig at the $5.7 million are Ian Poulter of England; recent U. S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III; and two-time major championship winner John Daly.
The 72-hole championship will start Thursday and end on Sunday with the traditional Seersucker Sunday celebration.
“We made a concerted effort this year to beef up our field as related to the Top 50 players in the world,” tournament director Phil Cannon said. “We had our eye on three players in that category for some time for sponsor’s exemptions, but only one was available to play next week – George Coetzee (No. 54).
“We were very pleased to be able to invite Shaun Micheel and David Duval, both winners of major championships. Plus, we have a great group of distinguished amateurs with the young phenom from China, and the two standout youngsters from the United States.
“Two spots remain available and we’ll be watching several options in the next few days, including the results of the NCAA Championship in Atlanta.”
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