Week 34 Power Rankings: The Barclays

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Mike Vitti is a stats guru who analyzes all kinds of data from our ShotLink numbers.

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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. MORE RANKINGS: Boeing Classic | PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup

Liberty National will play host to the first event of the 2009 PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup -- The Barclays. This will be the first PGA TOUR event hosted at this venue and while the view of the New York skyline will be awesome, the players will probably be too focused on the fairways and greens to notice.

As it is a new course both on the PGA TOUR and in construction, it is difficult to identify what statistics will be important to succeed this week. So it is back to the basics of recent performance, greens in regulation, scrambling, and putting.

Power Rankings: The Barclays

Rank Player   Comment Tiger WOODS Woods responded to his missed cut at the British Open with two victories and a second place finish. He ranks 18th in greens in regulation, fourth in scrambling, and 14th in putts per greens in regulation. Also, as usual, he leads the PGA TOUR in scoring. Phil MICKELSON He is working his way back into playing form after taking time off to care for his family. Even with his unplanned break, he is still fourth on TOUR in birdie conversion percentage. He also has an advantage -- he's a member at Liberty National. Steve STRICKER His rise to the top of golf has coincided with the advent of the FedExCup. He was the winner of the first Playoffs event ever and could have won the FedExCup. He has eight top-10s this season and ranks in the top 30 in GIR, putts per GIR, and scrambling. Y.E. YANG Yang has not finished outside of the top 25 in his last five starts and has finished in the top 10 three times. He is 31st in greens in regulation percentage and ranks 12th in proximity to the hole from the rough. Lucas GLOVER He ranks 20th in ball striking on the PGA TOUR and is fifth in scoring average. He has five top-10 finishes this season and has finished in the top 25 in six of his last eight starts. Jim FURYK He has played well in the Playoffs in the first two seasons and arrives this year with seven top-10 finishes on the season. He ranks 32nd in driving accuracy, 15th in proximity to the hole, sixth in scrambling and sixth in total putting. Sergio GARCIA He finished fourth last week and has earned top-25s in two of his last three starts. Despite performing below his usual standards this season, Garcia still ranks in the top 25 in scoring average and is tied for sixth in proximity to the hole from the rough. Hunter MAHAN Mahan ranks 12th in total driving and 13th in greens in regulation. He has finished in the top 10 six times this season, including four of his last six starts and is fourth on the PGA TOUR in scoring average. John SENDEN He leads the PGA TOUR in greens in regulation and is in the top 20 in both par-4 and par-5 scoring average. He has five top-10 finishes in 2009, with his best finish coming a few weeks ago at the Buick Open. Robert ALLENBY He has finished in the top 25 in each of his last two starts. He ranks 25th in greens in regulation percentage, eighth in total driving, and 12th in scoring average.