Week 19 Power Rankings: Valero Texas Open

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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.

LISTEN: 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.

To win this week at the Valero Texas Open, players will have to be able to go low. Since 1995, the average winning score has been around 18 under, and there were only two years where the winner was not at least 18 under.

In 2003, Tommy Armour III set the 72-hole scoring record by posting a 26-under 254 to win the tournament, and that year, there were five players who finished 17 under or better for the week.

On this course, length from the tee is not necessary to go low, as evidenced by past winners Zach Johnson, Justin Leonard, Bart Bryant and Loren Roberts. Additionally, the last five winners of this event have all ranked in the top 10 for the week in driving accuracy.

So who is ready to score this week? ...

Power Rankings: Valero Texas Open

Rank Player   Comment Justin LEONARD Leonard has three top 10s this season and ranks among the top 20 in driving accuracy, distance from edge of fairway, putting average and scrambling. In 11 starts here, Leonard has nine top 25s, including three wins and two second-place finishes. Zach JOHNSON Sixth in the FedExCup standings, Johnson is the highest-ranked player in the field and could move to first with a win. The defending champion enters this week ranked 11th in scoring average, 13th in driving accuracy, and 27th in greens in regulation. Charley HOFFMAN At 20 consecutive cuts made, Hoffman has the second-longest, active cuts-made streak on TOUR. He has made the cut in all his starts here, including two top 15s. He is also tied for eighth in birdie average and has the most rounds in the 60s this year. Brian DAVIS Playing his last 12 rounds at or below par, Davis has the longest active streak of consecutive rounds of par or better. Davis' streak includes four rounds under par at last week's PLAYERS championship where he tied for fifth. John MALLINGER Finishing second in scrambling and ninth in putts per greens in regulation at the PLAYERS, Mallinger recorded his second top 10 of the season. He finished tied for 15th in his only start at the Valero Texas Open in 2007. Tim CLARK Still looking for that elusive first victory, this could be the week for Clark. He currently ranks sixth in driving accuracy, 23rd in greens in regulation, sixth in putting average and is eighth in par-4 birdie percentage. Daniel CHOPRA Chopra tied for third in his last start at the Valero Texas Open in 2007. He struggled early in the season but threatened the course record at Sawgrass last week in the second round and wound-up tying for 14th. Bob ESTES Estes has finished in the top 25 in over half of his 20 career starts at the Valero Texas Open, including a victory in 1994. Estes enters this week ranked 16th in driving accuracy and is eighth in three-putt avoidance. Anthony KIM Kim hasn't finished in the top 10 since his first start of '09 and struggled with a second-round 82 at the PLAYERS. He is still second on the PGA TOUR in par-breaker percentage so the aggressive style required to win this week may help get him back on track. Dustin JOHNSON Johnson had three consecutive top 20s in February but has not finished better than a T30 since. He is currently ninth in birdie-or-better conversion percentage and fourth in par-breaker percentage; if he gets it going, he could go low.