Johnson, Garcia, McIlroy head Players cast

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida: World number one Dustin Johnson, newlywed Rory McIlroy and defending champion Jason Day headline a stacked field this week at The Players Championship where Sergio Garcia will compete for the first time since winning the US Masters.

Johnson has struggled at the PGA Tour’s flagship event — a share of 28th last year was his best result - but unlike other years the reigning US Open champion enters what is widely regarded as golf’s unofficial fifth major in enviable form.

The long-hitting American had won three consecutive starts prior to a freak accident that forced him to withdraw from last month’s Masters but showed no ill effects from the back injury by finishing runner-up in his return last week.

He will be staring down a premier field featuring 48 of the world’s top 50 golfers at the challenging TPC Sawgrass here with its island green on the par-three 17th that has become one of the most recognisable holes in golf.

World number three Day tied the Stadium Course record here last year with an opening 63.

But the former PGA Championship winner has not been at his best so far this year with just four top-25 finishes in eight events.

Four-time major winner McIlroy, fresh off his honeymoon, returns to action for the first time since finishing equal seventh at the Masters and the world number two will have all new clubs after signing a deal with TaylorMade.

Garcia, who triumphed here in 2008, will be well rested having not competed since claiming his first major title and will no doubt feel comfortable on a course where eight top-15 finishes in 17 starts.