Week 16 Power Rankings: Zurich Classic

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Officially, Mike Vitti is the Director of Research and Development in the TOUR's Marketing Department. Unofficially, he's a stats guru who analyzes all kinds of data from our ShotLink numbers.

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Mike Vitti discusses this week's Power Rankings in his weekly Talk of the TOUR segment on the PGA TOUR Network (XM 146, SIRIUS 209).Click to listen

Vitti will size up the field each week and provide his top 10 players going into the tournament, based on factors such as the player's strengths, the course setup, recent performances, etc.

Just because long hitters Andres Romero and Nick Watney have won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in the last two years doesn't mean that the TPC Louisiana is a bomber's paradise. Tim Petrovic won here in 2005 and Peter Lonard, Woody Austin, and Chris DiMarco have also had success at this layout -- none of those players are big hitters.

The course has some tough holes -- the par-4 sixth hole was among the toughest on the PGA TOUR in 2008 -- but the average winning score average has been 14-under par, so there are definitely birdie opportunities to be found.

One interesting stat to keep an eye on this week is sand save percentage. In the last three years, TPC Louisiana has ranked among the hardest courses to get up and down from the bunker.

Here are the rankings:

Power Rankings: Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Rank Player   Comment Nick WATNEY He earned his first career victory at the TPC Louisiana in 2007. He returns this year with eight top-25 finishes in nine starts; is ranked fourth in the FedExCup standings; and is in the top 15 in scoring average, driving distance, scrambling and total putting. Kenny PERRY Perry should rebound fine from his disappointing finish at the Masters. He has finished in the top 10 in six of his 10 starts and is third in the FedExCup standings. He also ranks first in scoring average and 10th in greens in regulation. Steve STRICKER Stricker has had four top-10s in nine starts. He is ninth in FedExCup points, but is one of two players in the top 10 without a win. A great putter, he's also striking the ball well and is ranked 14th in greens in regulation and third in proximity to the hole from the fairway. Charley HOFFMAN He's had a couple of disappointing finishes in the last couple of weeks, but he has not missed a cut in nine starts this season. Hoffman ranks in the top 25 in scrambling, driving distance, greens in regulation and birdie average. Rory SABBATINI Sabbatini tied for eighth last week and has finished in the top 20 in each of his last two starts. He currently ranks ninth in putting average and is 11th in birdie or better conversion percentage. Woody AUSTIN He has finished in the top five at TPC Louisiana in two of the last three years. He has made the cut in all eight starts this season and, going back to 2008, has made 15 consecutive cuts -- the fourth longest active cuts streak on TOUR. Tim WILKINSON He finished third at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans last year after finishing T6 in his preceding start. At last week's Verizon Heritage, the lefty tied for sixth. He enters this week ranked 10th in driving accuracy percentage. John MERRICK Merrick finished tied for seventh at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in 2008 and enters this week with three top-10 finishes on the season. He currently ranks in the top 25 in driving distance and three-putt avoidance. Bubba WATSON He started the year with four top-25s in his first five starts, but has not fared as well in his last four events. He is again leading the TOUR in driving distance by averaging over 310 yards, but will need to hit a few more greens (ranks 130th in GIR) to have a chance. Tim PETROVIC He comes in having missed seven cuts in 11 starts, but he has played very well at this event. He won at TPC Louisiana in 2005 and has not finished outside of the top 25 in three starts at this venue.