This Players Championship is turning out to be terrific. I have been to 28 of them and I can't remember one that has provided so much good golf in the first two days. All the portentous talk as to whether or not it is a major championship - and it's not - that was going on before the event started has been swept away by two days of outstanding golf.

Two days of outstanding golf for Europe, that is. Sergio Garcia was the story on the first day when he took a two-stroke lead. Bernhard Langer and Garcia were jointly the story on the second. Langer's round of 67, five under par, was simply outstanding, the lowest of the day and one of only two under 70. He had a chance to play nine holes in 29 but missed that; that was about the only thing he missed all day. He went out in 31, five under par, came back in 36. His putting was as outstanding as the sunshine. And remember this. Langer is the second oldest player in the field. He will be 51 in three months.

Langer left the 18th green to something approaching a standing ovation and he acknowledged it by sweeping off his visor so that you could see just how sunburned he was. His hair was tousled, which served as a reminder that the wind had been gusting at up 35 mph at times during his round. He said his round was one of the best of his life.

As if that was not enough for one day for those of European persuasion, then along came Garcia who at 28 is more than 20 years younger than Langer. Garcia gave a remarkable display of driving, a master class. There are four short holes at the Stadium course at the Tournament Players Course at Sawgrass, so that means there are 14 par 4s or par 5s. On every one of these Garcia's ball landed in the fairway. It was only the 7th time in his nine-year career as a pro that he was able to do that.

Again and again you saw Garcia wind himself up to the top of his backswing, as coiled as a spring, and then unleash a huge drive that ended in exactly the place on the fairway that he would have wanted. Often he could not have placed the ball in a better position. "It was the best driving round of golf I have evere seen" Roger Maltbie, a former touring pro who was commentating on television, said.

Both Langer and Garcia now have Kenny Perry, the leader, in their sights. They are one stroke behind the 47-year-old American and they are helping to make this Players one of the best of recent years.