MIAMI, March 2 (UPI) -- Phil Mickelson, off to a hot start in 2004, leads the field in the Ford Championship starting Thursday at the Doral Golf Resort in Miami.
Others entered include defending champion Scott Hoch, Retief Goosen, David Toms, Kenny Perry, Nick Price and Justin Leonard. Heath Slocum, who got his first tour victory Sunday in the Chrysler Classic at Tucson, is also in the field.
Among golf's big names not entered in the event at the 7,266-yard "Blue Monster" course are Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, who are playing in the Dubai Desert Classic on the European tour; Vijay Singh, Mike Weir, Davis Love and John Daly.
Mickelson, who has 22 tour victories, won the Bob Hope Classic and hasn't finished lower than seventh in any event this season.
Hoch won last year's Doral event on the third playoff hole over Jim Furyk, who also is not entered.
First prize in the tournament is $900,000.
