WCG title means more to me than Players' Championship, boasts Westwood

For that matter, do not try telling him it is the sixth major or the seventh major.

In a comment that will dismay US Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, Westwood claims he would rather win one of the three annual World Golf Championships events than this week's Players Championship.

"I think the World Golf Championships have drawn something away from the size of the Players Championship," the 35-year-old said.

"They used to say this was one of the strongest fields of the year, but probably not now.

"Given a choice, I'd rather win a World Golf Championships event but that's just me, because of the title, I suppose."

Westwood observed that while the world's top 50 players are exempt for the Players Championship, some very good Europeans are shut out.

"We could have a European who finished 51st in the world and eighth on the Order of Merit and wouldn't be in the field this week, so you could argue that the World Golf Championships events are stronger now," he added.

Actually, that is debatable because the WGC events all have limited fields, less than 90 players, while 144 will tee it up at Sawgrass on Thursday.

And, unlike the Masters, they are all real players - no amateurs and no has-beens who should have been put out to pasture years ago.

Irishman Padraig Harrington belongs firmly in the camp of those who consider the Players, the crown jewel of the PGA Tour, if not a major, then the next best thing.

"Anybody who wins this tournament will move over to the camp that it's the fifth major," he said. "I think anybody who hasn't won will say it's the next biggest event.

"It's a great field at a great venue but it takes time to build a major. I'm sure when we come back in 50 or 100 years, this will be a major."

That is even more debatable, because it would have to either replace one of the current four majors or become the fifth major.

Despite his provocative statement, Westwood believes the TPC course gives every type of player a chance, which perhaps is why recent winners have included long bombers such as Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott, and shorter hitters such as Fred Funk and Stephen Ames.

"It gives everybody a chance," he said. "You can probably get away with three holes where you'd have to hit driver.

"It puts a premium on accuracy but this is a great course for any type of player.

"The rough isn't bad but you can imagine flyers coming into play, and with the greens being so firm, you gain a lot by being in the fairways this week."

Harrington added: "Every player has opportunities on this course. Everybody can have a strategy and there are lots of different strategies.

"You can watch a three-ball and they'll consistently hit different clubs off the tee. There's a great amount of choice out there.

"No matter how tough the course is playing, you always feel if you get on a run you can shoot a 65. It's probably one of the better designed courses. It gives a few birdies but it can take them away though.

"There's plenty of danger. The best way to win is probably to stay patient and wait for those good (birdie) runs."