Golf stars fight for top ranking

Luke Donald, Martin Kaymer and Phil Mickelson have the chance to claim golf's world number one ranking by winning the $9.5 million US PGA Players Championship that begins Thursday.

World No. 1 Lee Westwood of England and rising star Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland will not be in the field of 156 playing for a $1.71 million top prize on the 7,220-yard TPC at Sawgrass course.

That opens the door for Germany's second-ranked Kaymer, who was overtaken for the top spot last month, third-ranked Englishman Donald or fourth-ranked US star Mickelson, who has missed numerous past chances without ever being No. 1.