Power Rankings: THE PLAYERS Championship

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If you’ve never played Augusta National Golf Club, take a moment to daydream that you will. Now imagine that you’re competing in the Masters. How would you approach the experience? Did you determine why the par-4 first hole is so hard? Were you in a position to understand the optical illusion of the massive fairway bunker on the par-4 10th? Did you figure out the nuance of positioning in the fairway on the par-5 13th? And then there’s all of the intel gleaned from putting some of the slickest and most undulating surfaces on the planet. If there’s a secret at the home of the only major that doesn’t migrate, it’s personal experience, and there’s only one way to acquire it. Since the most accomplished in the sport compete here annually, experience has proven to be the most valuable component among winners and contenders. This Power Rankings slots all 87 in the field, equal to the smallest gathering of the last 22 editions. Scroll past the groupings for what the field already knows about Augusta National, what’s new and more. WILD CARD Phil Mickelson … Who else? With no top 35s in his last five starts upon arrival and without a top 20 at Augusta National since a T2 in 2015, expectations must remain tempered. The counterargument is that he’s wanted to target courses that allow him the best chance to succeed, which means competing where there’s little rough. That’s easier said than done as he’s needed to stay warm, but the absence of something positive as one of the nearest objects in the rearview mirror is reason for mild concern. CHALLENGERS There’s never enough room for everyone to popular a Power Rankings, but none of these guys did anything that’s warranted abandoning elevated expectations. Think of this group as the Draws that would normally appear in my Fantasy Insider column. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (years of Masters victories, where applicable; # – second appearance) Tommy Fleetwood Bryson DeChambeau Webb Simpson Brandt Snedeker #Xander Schauffele Ian Poulter Adam Scott (winner: 2013) #Tony Finau Charley Hoffman #Cameron Smith Charl Schwartzel (winner: 2011) Matthew Fitzpatrick Branden Grace SLEEPERS This usually gets stand-alone space on Tuesdays, and it goes only five deep. It’s expanded by just one with a small field. Each presents a certain level of cachet and intrigue. No two are alike. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (# – second appearance) Patrick Cantlay Kiradech Aphibarnrat Stewart Cink Thorbjørn Olesen Kevin Na #Hao Tong Li TWEENERS None of these guys can be mistaken as a Sleeper for various reasons, but each packs potential despite little support that normally would lift him higher on the page. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (best finish, year) Keegan Bradley (T22, 2015) Kevin Kisner (T28, 2018) Billy Horschel (T17, 2016) Rafa Cabrera Bello (T17, 2016) Gary Woodland (T24, 2011) Fred Couples (Win, 1992) J.B. Holmes (T4, 2016) Si Woo Kim (T24, 2018) Zach Johnson (Win, 2007) Emiliano Grillo (T17, 2016) Tyrrell Hatton (T44, 2018) QUESTION MARKS With due respect to all of the guys listed here, each appears with doubt on his résumé. Whether it’s current form, age or the absence of an inspiring track record, there’s reason not to get too excited about the possibilities. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (years of Masters victories, where applicable; # – second appearance; * – debutant) Charles Howell III Jimmy Walker Martin Kaymer Shane Lowry Alex Noren Kyle Stanley *Eddie Pepperell *Matt Wallace *Keith Mitchell Danny Willett #Corey Conners *Justin Harding Bernhard Langer (winner: 1985, 1993) *Aaron Wise Vijay Singh (winner: 2000) #Patton Kizzire #Satoshi Kodaira Trevor Immelman (winner: 2008) Ã�ngel Cabrera (winner: 2009) Mike Weir (winner: 2003) DEBUTANTS (not ranked above) It’s the kind of fact that you’ve likely seen in a trivia contest. Only three of the 82 winners prevailed in a first appearance at Augusta National: Horton Smith (1934; inaugural edition), Gene Sarazen (1935) and Fuzzy Zoeller (1979). There are 17 first-timers in this year’s field, 11 of whom are professionals. Last year’s crop of professional debutants went 4-for-10 with one top 25 (Tony Finau, T10). Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (Official World Golf Ranking) Kevin Tway (98) Lucas Bjerregaard (43) Andrew Landry (128) Shugo Imahira (77) Adam Long (108) Michael Kim (330) AMATEURS Six amateurs automatically qualify for the Masters. Each much retain his amateur status to compete in the tournament. Given the mountain of challenges, it’s not so much about chasing victory as it is the probable once-in-a-lifetime experience that qualification makes possible. Yet, the Silver Cup, which is awarded to the low amateur who survives the 36-hole cut, is claimed almost every year. In 2018, Doug Ghim earn the hardware with a T50. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (World Amateur Golf Ranking) Viktor Hovland (3) Ã�lvaro Ortiz (69) Takumi Kanaya (7) Kevin O’Connell (47) Jovan Rebula (39) Devon Bling (115) LEGACY Win the Masters and you’re exempt for life, and you never take the place of another competitor because there are no alternates. It’s a great place to be for any professional golfer of a certain age. With Craig Stadler (2014), Ben Crenshaw (2015), Tom Watson (2016) and Mark O’Meara (2018) concluding their careers in the tournament, only four previous winners at least 50 years of age and no longer active on any world tour are committed this week. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (years of Masters victories) Larry Mize (winner: 1987) Sandy Lyle (winner: 1988) José Maria Olazábal (winner: 1994, 1999) Ian Woosnam (1991) Augusta National’s challenges are as consistent and reliable as its beauty and splendor. While precision into defined landing areas off the tee is preferred, golfers who can move it are benefited as fairways are as generous as the second (read: longer) cut of grass. Last year’s field averaged over nine (of 14) fairways hit on the stock par 72. That’s comfortably within the top-half easiest of any course measured on the PGA TOUR. The inverse relationship between freedom and inflexibility begins on approach into large targets guarded by sizable bunkers and unyielding run-offs. This combination of the tee-to-green dichotomy is why Augusta National is a second-shot test. Hitting GIR is all but a prerequisite for success. Consider that last year’s field average a little over 11 per round – 12th-lowest of all courses last season – before recording the fifth-lowest scrambling rate and fifth-highest putts per GIR. (ShotLink technology isn’t used at the Masters.) The par 3s and the par 4s are just plain hard. The par-4 fifth hole, which typically ranks among the top-half hardest holes on the course, will displace a handful of even harder holes this year. Since Patrick Reed slipped on the green jacket last year, a new tee was constructed that’s extended the hole by 40 yards to 495 yards. The course now lists at 7,475 yards, longest of its 83 editions. The four par 5s aren’t easy, but they’re gettable and must be exploited. Reed proved this by leading his field in par-5 scoring average last year at 4.19. He played them in bogey-free 13-under with two eagles. While experience at Augusta National is a priority, it’s meaningless without talent. And almost as much the club can use its SubAir system to dial in green speeds, which are not publicized, the course has served as a factory for breakthroughs in majors. Seven of the last eight winners, including each of the last four, were first-time major champions. It doesn’t hurt that the tiny field on the tony track is subject to a favorable cut. At the conclusion of 36 holes, the low 50 plus ties and all within 10 strokes of the lead will play another 36 holes. After a line of thunderstorms passed through on Monday afternoon, the SubAir system likely will be called into duty. Rain might fall again in between the first two rounds, if not early on Friday as well. The threat will return overnight on Saturday and extend into Sunday. Winds will freshen with each episode. Daytime highs will eclipse 80 degrees. In short, a textbook spring forecast in the Southeast. ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled. MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Fantasy Insider WEDNESDAY: One & Done * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which also publishes on Tuesdays.

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THE OVERVIEW By Cameron Morfit, PGATOUR.COM Although Justin Thomas won the FedExCup last fall, he’s the first to admit that among the highly decorated high school Class of 2011, Jordan Spieth (who finished second in the Playoffs) remains the valedictorian. Simply put, no one else can match Spieth’s numbers: He has won 11 times, including three majors, since the start of 2015. More mind-boggling still, he will go for the career grand slam at the PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Aug. 9-12. And he’s still just 24. (He will be 25 by the time he plays the PGA.) TOP 30 PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2018: We’ll countdown our list with one new player each day in December. Click here for the published players. MORE: Top 30 explanation and schedule In case you were living on the moon last season, Spieth made the bogey of the year at The Open Championship, his 5 from the driving range next to the 13th hole at Royal Birkdale featuring a wide-right tee shot; a 20-minute ruling; and an up-and-down to limit the damage. Two holes later, Spieth rolled in a long eagle putt and told his caddie, Michael Greller, “Go get that.â€� (Golden State Warriors shooting guard and sensational amateur golfer Stephan Curry would later repeat the unforgettable quip at the Web.com Tour’s Ellie Mae Classic.) Spieth would go 5 under on the last five holes to defeat playing partner Matt Kuchar by three strokes.   Keep in mind, all of this riveting theater took place a month after Spieth hit the unofficial shot of the year, his delirium-inducing bunker hole-out to beat Daniel Berger in a sudden-death playoff at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut. The image of a flying rake and a soaring Spieth and Greller crashing into one another in celebration won’t soon be forgotten. Spieth led the TOUR in scoring (68.846), birdies per round (4.49), and Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green (.906). He will defend titles in 2018 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the Travelers and The Open. But the truth is Spieth can win anywhere; of his 11 TOUR titles, he has hoisted only one tournament trophy twice, at the John Deere Classic. This is one of the most staggering talents we’ve seen in decades. BY THE NUMBERS How Jordan Spieth ranked in Strokes Gained statistics during his last full season on the PGA TOUR. FEDEXCUP Current 2017-18 position: N/A Playoff appearances: 5 TOUR Championship appearances: 5 Best result: Won in 2015. At 22, he was the youngest winner in FedExCup history. INSIGHTS FROM THE INSIDERS PGATOUR.COM’s Insiders offer their expert views on what to expect from Jordan Spieth in 2018. TOUR INSIDER by Ben Everill Everyone is always keen to highlight the friendship between Justin Thomas and Spieth but don’t think for a second there isn’t a fierce rivalry as well. While happy for Thomas’ achievements last season, Spieth sees it as a benchmark to strive past. We have the makings of many sensational battles going forward. His win at the Open Championship put him just a PGA Championship shy of the career slam but he will probably have multiple wins again before we reach that part of the year. If the putter gets hot, he will return to world No. 1. Click here to follow Ben on Twitter FANTASY INSIDER by Rob Bolton We’ve given him a pass because the adjustment in the wake of the lesson worked. Like so many before him, he nibbled on the allure to travel abroad early in 2016 and he didn’t fully recover from the physical toll in time to stake a stronger case for becoming the first to successfully defend the FedExCup. With that wisdom filed, he resisted opportunities early this year. Lo and behold, it transpired much more like his historic 2015 campaign. As long as he sticks with that model, there’s zero reason to doubt him at any time. Just 24 years old. Sigh. Click here to follow Rob on Twitter EQUIPMENT INSIDER by Jonathan Wall Spieth used the end of the 2017 season to make some major changes to his equipment setup. Added Titleist 718 AP2 irons and Vokey SM7 wedges during the Australian Open. Replaced Aldila NV 2KXV Blue 70X driver shaft with Graphite Design’s new Tour AD-IZ 6X. Continues to wield Scotty Cameron 009 putter from his junior golf days.  Click here to follow Jonathan on Twitter STYLE INSIDER by Greg Monteforte Spieth is consistent in his style, often gravitating towards similar designs (solids and classic stripes) and colors (blue and gray). For 2018, Jordan’s focus will be on fit. He’ll wear Under Armour’s new Showdown pant, which features a slimmer fit, increased stretch, and a lightweight fabric. Click here to follow Greg on Twitter

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