Mickelson is looking for his second victory in the event this week

Phil Mickelson heads the field in the absence of world number one Tiger Woods at this week's Players Championship.

Number two Mickelson says Woods's absence following knee surgery will lift pressure off leading contenders.

"When he's in the field that's the first thing you look at on the leaderboard - what did Tiger shoot, where does he stand," he said.

"That's obviously going to be different when he's not in the field. You don't have that thought."

World number seven Jim Furyk insists, however, that life will not necessarily be easy for those competing at the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass.

"I don't think we look at this event and say, 'He's not here, now I have a better chance of winning.'

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"You worry about yourself and your own game and getting yourself ready. I'm not really looking at the field."

Ireland's British Open champion Padraig Harrington added: "It doesn't change my approach. I've got to play my own game.

"If it comes down to it on Sunday and you're playing the 18th hole and you're a shot behind or a shot ahead, it doesn't really make any difference who's on the other side of the tee.

"It's going to be just as hard to beat that player as anybody else because if they're there, they're probably playing the best golf of their life."

There has been no European winner of the tournament, often described as the 'unofficial fifth major', since Sandy Lyle triumphed in 1987.

But former European number one Lee Westwood believes the firm, fast conditions will suit players who have come across the Atlantic.

"In Europe there's probably more of a premium on hitting fairways, which there will be this week," the Englishman said.

"I think it's a good golf course when it can do that, give everybody a chance."