Diversity a common theme among Players champions

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida (Reuters) - If variety is the spice of life, then the list of winners at the Players Championship must rank among the tastiest in the game.

The hosting Stadium Course at the TPC at Sawgrass is one of the fairest of tests in golf and a venue where the shorter hitters have just as much chance of success as the big guns.

American Fred Funk, among the straightest drivers on the PGA Tour and one of the shortest, became the oldest Players champion in history with a one-shot victory in 2005.

However, the big hitters have also flourished with Fred Couples (in 1984 and 1996), Davis Love III (in 1992 and 2003) and world number one Tiger Woods (in 2001) all winning the tournament unofficially dubbed the fifth major.

"Every player has opportunities on this golf course," British Open champion Padraig Harrington told reporters during preparation for Thursday's opening round.

"The par-fives, while they're on in two, they're not always straightforward so a shorter hitter who lays up is not going to be greatly disadvantaged hitting into the hole. I think everybody can have a strategy.

"You can go out and watch a three-ball and they'll consistently hit different clubs off the tee," added the 36-year-old Irishman, runner-up at Sawgrass in 2003 and 2004.

GREAT CHOICE

"There's a great amount of choice out there, you don't just have to fade the ball or draw the ball. It's not suited to one side of the golf course.

"You always feel like there's a score. No matter how tough the course is playing, you feel like if you get on a run out there, you can shoot a 65 or something like that. Patience is the key."

Former European number one Lee Westwood relishes the variety of winners produced at Sawgrass.

"This is a great golf course for that and one of my favourites," the 35-year-old said. "It puts a premium on accuracy but, at the same time, if you are a longer hitter you can hit shorter clubs off some of the tees.

"If you're good at plotting your way around, this is a great golf course for that type of player."

Forty-five of the world's top 50 are at Sawgrass, the notable absentee being top-ranked American Woods who is still recovering after undergoing knee surgery.

World number two Phil Mickelson, the defending champion, and third-ranked Adam Scott of Australia head the field.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)