Defending champion Vijay Singh will face a strong field that includes three of the top five money earners on the PGA Tour when the 84 Lumber Classic tees off on Thursday.
Singh, who is seeking to defend a title for the third time in 2005, will be joined in the 4.4 million dollar tournament by other top earners Phil Mickelson, David Toms and Jim Furyk.
In 2004, Singh came into this event having won the Deutsche Bank Championship and Bell Canadian Open and his victory here made him the first player since Tiger Woods in 2001 to win three straight starts.
This year, Singh missed the Deutsche Bank with back spasms and never could mount a serious threat and finished tied for seventh at the Canadian Open.
In this event last season, Singh shot a final round 69 to hold off a hard-charging Stewart Cink by one shot for his first career wire-to-wire victory.
"Coming up here and trying to defend is my main priority," Singh said. "I like playing golf tournaments, I like winning golf tournaments and this is one of them I'd like to defend if I can."
Ten golfers in the field, including the International team's Stuart Appleby, Peter Lonard and Singh, are tuning up for next week's Presidents Cup in Virginia.
Woods, who leads the PGA Tour with five victories, including two majors, is not entered here.
Also in the field are Fred Couples, John Daly and Mark Calcavecchia who won his first tour title in four years last week at the Bell Canadian Open despite managing just one birdie in his final 36 holes.
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