The field is set for Tiger's tournament.

The 2012 World Challenge will feature 18 of the world's top 28 players and will be sponsored for the first time by Northwestern Mutual, according to a statement released online by the Tiger Woods Foundation, the charity the event benefits.

Thirteen Ryder Cuppers will be in the field gunning for the $1 million first prize. There's no cut, so even last place takes home $120,000. Not a bad weekend, spent playing for a good cause: Proceeds go toward "the college-access programs of the Tiger Woods Foundation."

The tournament itself takes place from Nov. 28-Dec. 2 at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Tiger Woods is your defending champion, which shouldn't come as a surprise: Last year was his fifth win at the World Challenge.

Joining Woods in the field will be Americans Keegan Bradley, Jason Dufner, Jim Furyk, Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker, Steve Stricker, Bubba Watson, Nick Watney, Bo Van Pelt, Hunter Mahan, and Rickie Fowler; Europeans Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell; and Australian Jason Day.

RELATED: Tiger Woods career in photos | Tiger Woods SI covers | Tiger Woods homepage

On Sunday, Sweden's Jonas Blixt, the 75th-ranked golfer in the world, clipped Jason Kokrak (205th) and Tim Petrovic (421st) to win the Frys.com Open by a shot.

But, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, he'll have some stiffer competition defending his first Tour win.

As Ron Kroichick reports, all eight players who skipped the Frys.com in favor of playing the Turkish Airlines World Golf Finals last week will be required by the Tour to head to the Bay Area sometime in the next three years to make up for the event they skipped.

That means some high-profile names could battle Blixt as soon as next year, when the Frys becomes the opening event of the PGA Tour's new calendar. Among them: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Webb Simpson, Matt Kuchar and Hunter Mahan -- all players ranked in the top 20. This year, only two in the top 50 teed it up at CordeValle.

Woods alone is a big boost: According to the San Jose Mercury News, the Frys drew 75,000 fans in 2011, when Tiger played. This year, the tournament president said, the total numbers will not even match the 35,000 who came in 2010.

Next year's incarnation will be played Oct. 7-13, one week after the Presidents Cup. No rest for the world's best.

Every golfer knows the feeling: You hit one in the water, and throw the towel in after it.

Of course, out on the muni there's rarely a chunk of $5.3 million in play.

But, the urge to pack it in was impossible for Rory McIlroy to resist on Tuesday, when, after splashing one on the 15th hole, he "lost interest" in his match against Matt Kuchar.

At least that's what Kuchar himself told James Corrigan on the Daily Telegraph. And McIlroy seemed to admit as much himself:

The Northern Irishman was level with Kuchar - another member of the losing Ryder Cup team at Medinah 12 days ago – on the 15th when his own seven caused his challenge to implode, as he dropped seven strokes in three holes.

Kuchar said he believed his opponent “lost interest” after chopping around in the trees on his way to a triple bogey and McIlroy admitted as much. “I was playing pretty well until the 15th, then I hit it into the hazard on 16 and was just trying to get the round done,” he said.

With both McIlroy and Tiger Woods falling in round one, some of the sparkle may fall from the inaugural Turkish event. Woods won his second-round match Wednesday morning, but McIlroy lost again and now the No. 1 player in the world has no chance of advancing to the semifinals once his match with Woods is complete. McIlroy and Woods will face off Thursday morning.

Players from both teams enjoy the days before competition begins:

Final practice day! Gala was great last night & Opening Ceremony today. @rydercupteamusa is ready...just like our #13thMan fans! THANK YOU!

— Davis Love III (@Love3d) September 27, 2012

Going to take it all in today because tomorrow I'll be laser focused on helping Team #USA get that W!! #LetsDoThis

— Dustin Johnson (@DJohnsonPGA) September 27, 2012

“@alanshipnuck: Is @jasondufner overmarried? You make the call... twitter.com/AlanShipnuck/s…” why would u ever under marry? DUH!!!😆

— Jason Dufner (@JasonDufner) September 27, 2012

The clarke's & Poulter's all dressed up for the gala dinner. Girlies look beautiful. twitter.com/IanJamesPoulte…

— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) September 26, 2012

Could have been my most favorite moment of my career today when I walked to the 1st t and heard that crowd Let's go #CHICAGO!

— Keegan Bradley (@Keegan_Bradley) September 26, 2012

Big thanks to Sergio and Paul today for their cash! @graeme_mcdowell and I are very appreciative! #plentymorewherethatcamefrom

— Rory Mcilroy (@McIlroyRory) September 25, 2012

Many of the players wives and girlfriends (WAGs) will be in attendance this week:

Pretty fancy! #RyderCup twitter.com/DianeDonald/st…

— Diane Donald (@DianeDonald) September 27, 2012

What is this?? @mcilroyrory ... Should I be jealous? Lol...;) twitter.com/CaroWozniacki/…

— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) September 26, 2012

Valentina Molinari and I both wearing @ralphlauren #RyderCup twitter.com/DianeDonald/st…

— Diane Donald (@DianeDonald) September 26, 2012

Having a great day in Chicago with the ladies!!We took a carriage ride downtown. @dianedonald is a fab tour gal!!! twitter.com/kristinstape/s…

— kristin stape (@kristinstape) September 25, 2012

The Euro Wags enjoying some bubbly and the view! #RyderCup twitter.com/DianeDonald/st…

— Diane Donald (@DianeDonald) September 25, 2012

Welcome to Chicago! twitter.com/KateVRose/stat…

— Kate Rose (@KateVRose) September 24, 2012

Will do my best to post lots of useless tidbits 4 u guys this week. Follow my fellow Euro WAG tweeters as well @katevrose & @kristinstape 😃

— Diane Donald (@DianeDonald) September 24, 2012

Celebs and fellow golfers share their Ryder Cup excitement and show their support:

There will be only one Molinari this time but he will be good enough! #goEurope #rydercuptime @f_molinari

— Edoardo Molinari (@DodoMolinari) September 27, 2012

Excited 2 be singing the Anthem at todays @rydercup opening ceremonies! I have my Grandpa in tow...he LOVES golf! Make sure you tune in! :D

— Jordin Sparks (@JordinSparks) September 27, 2012

Which pin should I wear today on @gcmorningdrive ? twitter.com/ANNIKA59/statu…

— Annika Sorenstam (@ANNIKA59) September 27, 2012

Now, THIS is cool... #RyderCup #I'makidinacandystore twitter.com/jtimberlake/st…

— Justin Timberlake(@jtimberlake) September 26, 2012

Thanks to @rydercupteamusa for a great time today. Thanks to all the fans lets get rowdy

— Robbie Gould (@RobbieGould09) September 25, 2012

President Clinton just accepted my $100 bet on the Ryder Cup. Don't let me down @mcilroyrory @lukedonald @ianjamespoulter @westwoodlee ! CNN

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 25, 2012

Landed!! Ryder cup allll week!!! Time for some more golf!!!!

— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) September 24, 2012

Looking forward to watching the Ryder Cup this week. USA

— Jay Feely (@jayfeely) September 24, 2012

Fans arrive to the course for practice rounds and the U.S. Past Captain/Celebrity Scramble:

There really are no words! We may not be many, but we know how to dress #RyderCup #MorphWouldBeProud instagr.am/p/QFrhb_SHMI/

— Ryder Cup Team EUR (@RyderCupTeamEUR) September 27, 2012

#13thMan cheering on @rydercupteamusa at the 1st tee! #RyderCupinstagr.am/p/QAO6F6yV7V/

— Ryder Cup Team USA (@RyderCupTeamUSA) September 25, 2012

Plenty of European support already lining fairways at Medinah. Check out these strapping young men #RyderCup

- Ryder Cup Team EUR (@RyderCupTeamEUR) September 25, 2012

Scottie and Richard #RyderCup yfrog.com/kh57yjhj

— Rafer Weigel (@RaferWeigel) September 25, 2012

Re-placement caddies for the week if needed!! #RyderCup #TeamEurope moby.to/s6oc44

— Luke Donald (@LukeDonald) September 26, 2012

Both U.S. and Europe team members express their excitement for the week as they arrive in Chigago:

Everyone on the plane to Chicago for RYDER CUP........... Yeh #Avit t.co/cf5XmPOr

— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) September 24, 2012

Let's go USA! So pumped for the Ryder Cup. Out at Medina right now!

— Dustin Johnson (@DJohnsonPGA) September 24, 2012

Just landed in Chicago. Enroute to team hotel. To say I'm excited is an understatement. Team get together this evening. #itbegins#Europe

— Graeme McDowell (@Graeme_McDowell) September 24, 2012

Just landed in Chicago!! #RyderCup

Rory McIlroy looks back at his favorite moments from the 2010 Ryder Cup:

Each week, 14 staffers from SI Golf+, Golf Magazine and GOLF.com  vote for  their top 10, awarding 10 points to their first choice and proceeding in descending order to the 10th player, who gets one point. The points are then added and the ranking calculated. This ranking aims to be an of-the-moment measure of who’s playing the best right now. Tell us your top 10 in the comments field below.

RANK (TOTAL VOTES, FIRST PLACE VOTES, LAST WEEK'S RANK)

1. Tiger Woods (118, 8, 1) - Last three finishes: T3, British Open; MC, The Greenbrier Classic; 1, AT&T National
- Official World Golf Ranking: 2

2. Ernie Els (110, 5, NR) - Last three finishes: 1, British Open; T52, Scottish Open; 9 U.S. Open Championship
- Official World Golf Ranking: 15

3. Webb Simpson (91, 1, 2) - Last three finishes: T7, The Greenbrier Classic; T29, Travelers Championship; 1, U.S. Open Championship
- Official World Golf Ranking: 5

4. Jason Dufner (86, 0, 3) - Last three finishes: T31, British Open; T4, U.S. Open Championship; 2, Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
- Official World Golf Ranking: 8

5. Luke Donald (69, 0, 6) - Last three finishes: T5, British Open; T16, Scottish Open; MC, U.S. Open
- Official World Golf Ranking: 1

6. Graeme McDowell (64, 0, NR) - Last three finishes: T5, British Open; T17, ALSTOM Open de France; T16, Irish Open
- Official World Golf Ranking: 11

7. Zach Johnson (48, 0, 5) -  Last three finishes: T9, British Open; 1, John Deere Classic; T64, Travelers Championship
- Official World Golf Ranking: 12

8. Adam Scott (39, 0, NR) - 2, British Open; 3, AT&T National; T15, U.S. Open Championship
- Official World Golf Ranking: 6

9. Lee Westwood (30, 0, 4) - Last three finishes: T45, British Open; T40, ALSTOM Open de France; T10, U.S. Open
- Official World Golf Ranking: 4

10. Matt Kuchar (23, 0, 8) - Last three finishes: T9, British Open; T8, Travelers Championship; T27, U.S. Open
-Official World Golf Ranking: 9

Others receiving votes:
Hunter Mahan (17)
Bubba Watson (17)
Rory McIlroy (15)
Dustin Johnson (14)
Y.E. Yang (9)
Rickie Fowler (7)
Brandt Snedeker (6)
Louis Oosthuizen (4)
Fred Couples (1)
Padraig Harrington (1)
Geoff Ogilvy (1)

Who is LeBronold Palmer, you ask? It's actually a "what." Specifically, it's a shoe, according to Jonathan Wall at Yahoo's Devil Ball Golf blog. That's right: King James's new Nike basketball shoe, the "LeBronold Palmer 9 low" is a shout out to The King, Arnold Palmer. Or, at least, a shout-out to a certain delicious canned beverage that shares a name with a professional golfer (an image of the beverage is emblazoned on the insole). Unclear which. LeBron tweeted out a picture of the shoe earlier this week. Drink it in, folks:

A lot about this is hazy, but one thing here is clear: it's impossible to see those shoes and not hear Jan Hammer's synth-y theme to Miami Vice pinging in your head. Welcome to 1986, Miami, prepare to ride a New Wave. Our current over/under on how many pairs Pat Riley will purchase: seven.

Fairway Feud
The Casta del Sol golf course in Mission Viejo, Calif. is usually a quiet place to play the game of kings. Most courses are. But on Thursday things went Royal Rumble in the 18th fairway, as ABC 7 of Los Angeles reports. According to police, that's where Michael Payne picked a fight with the entire foursome ahead of him. The cause? Payne allegedly claimed they were stealing the golf balls he couldn't find:

Investigators accuse the 46-year-old Payne of punching one golfer in the face, then attacking Chambers' friend with a golf club, bashing him on the wrist as the victim tried to leave in a golf cart.

"He got in the cart to go get the marshal and go get help, and then he was chased down by the golfer with a golf club," said Chambers.

Payne then allegedly ran to the hillside.

The wrist looks like the worst injury. His playing partner put it in terms sure to horrify anyone who loves the game: "It's bad enough that he's not going to be golfing here anytime soon."

Tweet of the Day

Between Bubba and Webb, the POY race may wind up being determined by diaper duty.

— Alan Shipnuck (@AlanShipnuck) July 13, 2012

Each week, 15 staffers from SI Golf+, Golf Magazine and GOLF.com vote for their top 10, awarding 10 points to their first choice and proceeding in descending order to the 10th player, who gets one point. The points are then added and the ranking calculated. This ranking aims to be an of-the-moment measure of who’s playing the best right now. Tell us your top 10 in the comments field below.

RANK (TOTAL VOTES, FIRST PLACE VOTES, LAST WEEK'S RANK)

1. Tiger Woods (149, 14, 4) - Last three finishes: 1, AT&T National; T21, U.S. Open; 1, Memorial Tournament
- Official World Golf Ranking: 4

2. Jason Dufner (114, 0, 2) - Last three finishes: T4, U.S. Open Championship; 2, Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial; 1, HP Byron Nelson Championship
- Official World Golf Ranking: 8

3. Webb Simpson (114, 1, 1) - Last three finishes: T29, Travelers Championship; 1, U.S. Open Championship; MC, Memorial Tournament
- Official World Golf Ranking: 5

4. Lee Westwood (99, 0, 3) - Last three finishes: T10, U.S. Open; 1, Nordea Masters; T33 BMW PGA Championship
- Official World Golf Ranking: 3

T5. Luke Donald (61, 0, 6) - Last three finishes: MC, U.S. Open; 12, Memorial Tournament; 1, BMW PGA Championship
- Official World Golf Ranking: 1

T5. Rory McIlroy (61, 0, 7)  - Last three finishes: T10, Irish Open; MC, U.S. Open; T7, FedEx St. Jude Classic
- Official World Golf Ranking: 2

7. Matt Kuchar (46, 0, 5) - Last three finishes: T8, Travelers Championship; T27, U.S. Open; T26, Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
-Official World Golf Ranking: 7

8. Graeme McDowell (38, 0, 8) - Last three finishes: T16, Irish Open; T2, U.S. Open; MC, FedEx St. Jude Classic
- Official World Ranking: 11

9. Hunter Mahan (32, 0, NR) - Last three finishes: T8, AT&T National; T11, Travelers Championship; T38 U.S. Open
- Official World Golf Ranking: 10

10. Bubba Watson (31, 0, 9) - Last three finishes: T2, Travelers Championship; MC, U.S. Open; MC, Memorial Tournament
- Official World Ranking: 6

Others receiving votes:
Rickie Fowler (17)
Padraig Harrington (15)
Jim Furyk (12)
Dustin Johnson (9)
Adam Scott (8)
Marc Leishman (5)
Justin Rose (5)
Louis Oosthuizen (4)
Zach Johnson (2)
Fred Couples (1)
Branden Grace (1)
Bo Van Pelt (1)

Each week, 15 staffers from SI Golf+, Golf Magazine and GOLF.com vote for their top 10, awarding 10 points to their first choice and proceeding in descending order to the 10th player, who gets one point. The points are then added and the ranking calculated. This ranking aims to be an of-the-moment measure of who’s playing the best right now. Tell us your top 10 in the comments field below.

RANK (TOTAL VOTES, FIRST PLACE VOTES, LAST WEEK'S RANK)
1. Webb Simpson (127, 7, 1) - Last three finishes: T29, Travelers Championship; 1, U.S. Open Championship; MC, Memorial Tournament
- Official World Golf Ranking: 5

2. Jason Dufner (126, 4, 2) - Last three finishes: T4, U.S. Open Championship; 2, Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial; 1, HP Byron Nelson Championship
- Official World Golf Ranking: 8

3. Lee Westwood (115, 2, 3) - Last three finishes: T10, U.S. Open; 1, Nordea Masters; T33 BMW PGA Championship
- Official World Golf Ranking: 3

4. Tiger Woods (97, 1, 4) - Last three finishes: T21, U.S. Open; 1, Memorial Tournament; T40, Players Championship
- Official World Golf Ranking: 4

5. Matt Kuchar (62, 0, 6) - Last three finishes: T8, Travelers Championship; T27, U.S. Open; T26, Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
-Official World Golf Ranking: 7

6. Luke Donald (60, 0, 5) - Last three finishes: MC, U.S. Open; 12, Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance; 1, BMW PGA Championship
- Official World Golf Ranking: 1

7. Rory McIlroy (54, 1, 7)  - Last three finishes: MC, U.S. Open; T7, FedEx St. Jude Classic; MC, Memorial Tournament
- Official World Golf Ranking: 2

8. Graeme McDowell (35, 0, 8) - Last three finishes: T2, U.S. Open; MC, FedEx St. Jude Classic; MC, BMW PGA Championship
- Official World Ranking: 11

9. Bubba Watson (33, 0, NR) - Last three finishes: T2, Travelers Championship; MC, U.S. Open; MC, Memorial Tournament
- Official World Ranking: 6

10. Rickie Fowler (25, 0, 9) - Last three finishes: T41, U.S. Open; T52, Memorial Tournament; T5, Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
- Official World Golf Ranking: 19

Others receiving votes:
Hunter Mahan (23)
Jim Furyk (21)
Dustin Johnson (10)
Padraig Harrington (8)
Justin Rose (6)
Ernie Els (5)
Zach Johnson (5)
Marc Leishman (5)
Branden Grace (4)
Louis Oosthuizen (3)
Phil Mickelson (1)