Some of America's leading golfers on the PGA Tour line up in Akron, Ohio, today in a last effort to qualify for the Merrill Lynch Shoot-out final scheduled for Bermuda's Mid Ocean Club on September 26.

Three places in the 10-man field remain -- the other spots having been filled by sponsors' choices.

Whoever finishes among the top three on the Shoot-out money list following today's competition, which precedes this week's World Series of Golf, will book their ticket to Bermuda.

Already confirmed earlier this year for the September extravaganza were defending champion and current US Open champion Corey Pavin, 1995 Masters winner Ben Crenshaw and top ten Tour money winner Peter Jacobsen.

In the last few weeks Craig Stadler -- defeated on the final hole by Pavin in last year's tournament -- Curtis Strange and Payne Stewart have been added to that list.

The seventh sponsors' choice seems almost certain to be Davis Love, winner of the Shoot-out final in 1991 and 1993, although organisers are still awaiting his confirmation.

Of the seven, only Strange and Stewart were absent last year.

Leading the qualifying charge for the three vacant spots is Kenny Perry who has picked up $13,900 in shoot-out winnings from 15 events held over the last 12 months, all of them staged on the Tuesday immediately preceding PGA Tour tournaments.

Hot on his heels is Scott Hoch ($11,810), who played in the final last September, and David Duval ($11,400).

But also challenging for a final berth are Brad Faxon ($11,100), Steve Stricker ($9,510), Mike Heinen ($9,200), Scott Simpson ($9,000), John Huston ($8,900) and Woody Austin ($8,000).

A spokesman for Merrill Lynch was yesterday unable to confirm which players would compete in today's shoot-out, but noted that as many as 10 pros were still in contention.

This year's tournament final comes just two days after the finish of the Ryder Cup at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York.

And of the players confirmed for the Shoot-out, four -- Pavin, Crenshaw, Strange and Jacobsen, as well as Love -- are members of the US team.

Faxon, who could secure his Bermuda ticket today, also lines up for the Americans in their bi-ennial match against Europe's best.

The Ryder Cup players will likely be asked to fly down to Bermuda immediately following the last of the singles matches on Sunday, September 24, as again Merrill Lynch have organised a pro-am tournament at Mid Ocean for their executives and clients on Monday, September 24.

Pavin, a keen angler, said recently he intended booking into Mid Ocean on the Sunday evening with his wife and two sons and would be remaining on the Island for a week's holiday during which he hoped to swap his golf clubs for fishing tackle.

Payne Stewart Curtis Strange