Power Rankings: PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup

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

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: The Barclays | Boeing Classic

The PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup start this week and, although some changes were made to the format this year, one thing has remained the same - as long as a player has qualified to play this week, he has a chance to win it all.

Tiger Woods comes in as the point leader and the favorite to win it all, but his lead is not enough for him to simply coast into the finals. There are 2,500 points awarded to the winner in the first three events, plus a whole lot of points are available to the players finishing in the top 10 of these events.

There will probably be some players moving into contention over the next few weeks, but the guys that have played well throughout the season definitely have an advantage. Here are 10 players to watch over the four-tournament stretch:

Power Rankings: PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup

Rank Player Comment Tiger WOODS | FedExCup Rank: 1 | Woods, the inaugural winner of the FedExCup in 2007, is starting his playoff run in New York looking to add to an already formidable lead. He's finished either first or second in his last three starts and another victory should secure him a top-five spot. Steve STRICKER | FedExCup Rank: 2 | He's excelled the last two seasons in the Playoffs, finishing in the top-20 in seven of eight starts. He enters this season with a win and top-10s in two of his last four starts. He also ranks first in scrambling and third in proximity to the hole on approach. Zach JOHNSON | FedExCup Rank: 3 | One of three players to have amassed over 2,000 points in the '09 regular season, Johnson is in the top-25 in driving accuracy, GIR, putts per GIR, scrambling from the rough, and scoring average. He finished seventh in the Playoffs in '07. Camilo VILLEGAS | FedExCup Rank: 35 | Villegas started the Playoffs outside of the top-30 in both '07 and '08 but managed to get to the finale in Atlanta both times. He is outside the top-30 again in '09, but with top-10s in six of eight past Playoff starts, this seems to be his favorite time of year. Lucas GLOVER | FedExCup Rank: 5 | Despite finishing in the top-15 in two Playoff events in '07 and one in '08, Glover has never made it to Atlanta. He should get there this year based on his regular season performance, which includes top-25s in six of his last eight starts. Phil MICKELSON | FedExCup Rank: 6 | Starting the playoffs in New York at a course where he has a membership could push Mickelson to a fast start. He has earned top-20 finishes in six of the seven Playoff events he has played, plus he's finished in the top-10 in the first two FedExCup competitions. Sergio GARCIA | FedExCup Rank: 89 | With his solo fourth in Greensboro, Garcia moved up 26 places. He placed in the top-10 in the first two FedExCup competitions and notched three top-5 finishes in last year's Playoffs. He's never finished outside of the top 25 in a Playoff event. Mike WEIR | FedExCup Rank: 26 | Weir has five top-10s on the season, including three in his last seven starts. After failing to qualify for the final two Playoffs events in '07, Weir rebounded last year, finishing sixth overall on the strength of three top-10 finishes in the four Playoffs events. Vijay SINGH | FedExCup Rank: 59 | The defending FedExCup champ will have to make up some ground if he is to repeat this year. Singh, who has finished in the top-20 in two of his last four starts, won twice in the '08 Playoffs, but if he starts like he did in '07 (MC, T60), he won't make it to Chicago. Jim FURYK | FedExCup Rank: 16 | His winless stretch has been well covered in golf circles, but he has played too well not to break through at some point. He has only finished outside the top-25 once in the first eight Playoff events, and hasn't finished outside the top-15 in the last six.