Mickelson heads strong Wachovia field

The Wachovia Championship does not boast quite the elite field of last year but an impressive line-up has gathered for tomorrow's €4 million event.

Only one of the world's leading 30 players missed the tournament in 2007 but this year three of the top 10 are absent, injured defending champion Tiger Woods, South African Ernie Els and South Korean K.J. Choi.

World number one Woods, out of action after undergoing knee surgery, will be missed but the Wachovia still probably has the deepest field for a regular PGA Tour event this season.

The Quail Hollow course is among the players' favourite and the event represents an ideal tune-up for next week's unofficial fifth major, the Players Championship.

Officials were hoping for a firm and fast layout but torrential rains have left the course soggy. The greens, however, should be unaffected because of a special system which sucks the moisture out of the putting surfaces.

"The greens were perfect today," Johnson Wagner, a winner in Houston early this month, told reporters yesterday. "They were a little softer than to be expected, but they were great, rolled fast, and I think they will firm right up."

World number two Phil Mickelson heads the field and Australian Adam Scott will be one to watch, coming off Sunday's stunning victory at the Byron Nelson Championship, where he holed a 48-foot birdie putt at the third extra hole

While Padraig Harrington will sit out the event, Europe will be well represented by the likes of Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey.