Feb. 17, 2009
Editor's note: Vartan Kupelian is the Champions Tour Insider and a PGATOUR.COM Contributor. Each week, Kupelian will size up the field and provide his top 5 players going into the tournament, based on factors such as the player's strengths, the course setup, recent performances, etc.
The ACE Group Classic, the Champions Tour's second consecutive event in Florida, will feature defending champion Scott Hoch as well as several other star veterans this week.
Mike Goodes is the Tour's most recent winner after capturing his first title at last week's Allianz Championship.
This is one of the Champions Tour's long-standing events. It began in 1988, when Gary Player won at The Club at Pelican Bay in Naples, Fla. Over the past two decades, it's remained in Naples but moved to several different courses in the area.
This is the first year it will take place at TPC Treviso Bay, designed by Arthur Hills and Hal Sutton -- who is in the field this week -- in 2008.
| Power Rankings: ACE Group Classic |
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Bernhard LANGER |
The untidy second-round 73 last week was an anomaly dictated by a balky putter. Langer didn't allow it to sidetrack him as he rebounded nicely for a final-round 67 and a third-place finish. |
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Andy BEAN |
The big guy has played six rounds in '09 and all have been in the 60s. His scoring average is an impressive 67.5. He's 27-under-par through two tournaments, which was good for a second and a T7. |
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Mike GOODES |
Does the first-time winner at Boca Raton back it up with another superb finish? That's the big question. As a rule of thumb, when good players get on a roll, they stay there for at least a few weeks. |
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Mark JAMES |
The Englishman has two top-10s in two starts, improving from 10th in Hawaii to a T4 at the Allianz Championship and he's a cumulative 22-under. A very solid start for James, who is looking for his first victory since the Allianz in '07. |
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Jay HAAS |
Opening 72 at Allianz Championship gave him too much work to do and, although a second-round 65 helped, it wasn't enough. Still looking for his best golf -- don't be surprised if he finds it at TPC Treviso Bay. |
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