Week 26 Power Rankings: AT&T National

text size

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 rankings on the PGA TOUR Network. 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.

Congressional Country Club plays host to the AT&T National this week and, as one of the more traditional-style courses on the PGA TOUR, it definitely places a premium on shot making.

The first two winners of this event, K.J. Choi and Anthony Kim, are both excellent shot makers and Sergio Garcia, the winner of the 2005 Booz Allen Classic that was played at Congressional, can also be included as an example of the style of player that excels at this venue.

Unlike some of the other traditional courses on the PGA TOUR, distance from the tee may prove to be a bigger advantage this week than accuracy. Each of the last three winners of PGA TOUR events at Congressional have all ranked in the top 15 in driving distance for the week, while only Choi was in the top 15 in driving accuracy when he won in 2007.

Power Rankings: AT&T National

Rank Player   Comment Tiger WOODS Woods has not finished outside of the top 10 in a stroke play event since a tie for 12th at the 2007 British Open. Ranked 71st in greens in regulation, Woods has not been his usual self on approach shots, but he does rank ninth in scrambling and first in scoring average. Hunter MAHAN Mahan has placed in the top 15 at both AT&T National tournaments and arrives this year having finished in the top 10 in his last two starts. He is seventh on the PGA TOUR in ball striking and eighth in birdie or better conversion percentage. Robert ALLENBY Allenby is fourth on the PGA TOUR in ball striking and is 13th in proximity to the hole from the fairway. He tied for sixth in 2007 at the AT&T National, and last year he posted four rounds in the 60s and tied for third. Jim FURYK Furyk has posted six top-10s in 13 starts, including three of his last four. He ranks 17th in driving accuracy percentage, 10th in proximity to the hole, fifth in scrambling, and 19th in total putting. He also tied for third in the first two AT&T National events. Anthony KIM The defending champion this week, Kim appears to be regaining his form after top-20 finishes in the last two weeks. He's currently ranked 17th in driving distance, third in putts per green in regulation, and fourth in birdie average. John SENDEN Ranked first on TOUR in ball striking, Senden is also first in greens in regulation and 15th in driving distance. He has four top-10s this season, including a T4 in his last start at the St. Jude Classic. He also tied for 18th last year at Congressional. Sean O'HAIR O'Hair is second on TOUR in greens in regulation, 21st in total driving, and sixth in birdie conversion percentage. In 14 starts this season, he has earned 11 top-25 finishes, which includes six top-10 finishes. Steve MARINO Marino, who tied for 24th last year at the AT&T National, is ranked ninth in ball striking and 21st in scoring average. He missed the cut in his last start, but he had finished in the top 25 in his three starts prior to that and has a total of nine top-25 finishes this year. Charley HOFFMAN Hoffman has made the cut in all 15 of his starts this season, earning nine top-25 finishes in those events. He ranks in the top 25 in driving distance, total putting and birdie conversion percentage, plus he tied for 19th in 2007 at this event. Rocco MEDIATE Nothing stands out statistically for Mediate, but he has yet to miss the cut in 13 starts this season. More importantly, he's scored par or better in seven of his last eight rounds at Congressional and he has finished in the top 20 in both years.