Armed police protect golfers

One hundred armed police officers are taking part in a massive security operation at the Players' Championship here at Sawgrass.

The security cordon thrown around the Tournament Players' Club on the north-east coast of Florida is unprecedented for a golf tournament.

But organisers of an event that has attracted entries from 48 of the world's top 50 players, including defending champion Tiger Woods and British stars Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood, are leaving nothing to chance in the wake of the 11 September terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

Brian Goin, executive director of the tournament, ordered security to be stepped up after a chilling video was recovered from Afghanistan in January.

Among scenes of Al Qaeda fighters training for a series of terrorist attacks was one purporting to show an assassination attempt on world leaders at a golf course.

Police officers will walk the course in close proximity to each group of golfers.

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