Week 3 Power Rankings: 50th Bob Hope Classic

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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

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. 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 set-up, recent performances, etc.

The 50th Bob Hope Classic is the first multi-course event of the season. With multi-course events, I think the best statistics to look at are the basic ones.

Recent performance, scoring, greens in regulation, putting, and scrambling are probably the most informative when choosing players who could perform well this week.

Experience can also be a factor at the Bob Hope, as there is one less day of practice available to players. Players who are familiar with the layouts from competing in past events or who hail from California will have a definite advantage.

Power Rankings: 50th Bob Hope Classic

Rank Player   Comment Justin LEONARD In his first event of the year, Leonard hit just over 90 percent of the greens in regulation and was second in driving accuracy. The 2005 champion at the Bob Hope, Leonard was second in 2008 and has five top-10s in 11 starts. D.J. TRAHAN The defending champion at this event, Trahan knows how to handle the multi-course format. Through the first two events of the year, Trahan is ranked second in ball striking and could repeat here if he gets the putter working. Anthony KIM Kim is the highest-ranked player in the field by the Official World Golf Ranking and is tied for fourth in FedExCup points. NEWS UPDATE: Kim has withdrawn due to injury. Charley HOFFMAN The winner of the Bob Hope in 2007, Hoffman has finished in the top 10 in both of his career starts in Palm Desert, Calif. Hoffman has also shot par or better in all 10 rounds played at this event. Charles HOWELL III Ranking in the top five for the week in par-3 and par-5 birdie percentage, Howell put up four rounds in the 60s last week at his opening event in Hawaii. NEWS UPDATE: Howell has withdrawn for personal reasons. David TOMS Ranking in the top 10 in putts per round, driving accuracy, and scrambling at the Sony Open, he was the runner-up and looked like the Toms of old. He has only one top-10 finish at the Bob Hope in nine starts but has never missed the cut. Brian GAY The leading scrambler on the PGA TOUR in 2008, Gay can get up and down from anywhere around the greens. He will need to make a few more birdies to be successful at the Bob Hope this week. Nathan GREEN Green was strong on the greens as he started the season with a solid 12th-place finish at the Sony Open. He did not record a single three-putt last week and was 53-for-53 on putts inside of five feet. Jesper PARNEVIK Parnevik has four top-10s at the Bob Hope, including a victory in 2000. He was 10th in 2008 in birdie or better conversion percentage - if he can just give himself some birdie opportunities here, he has the ability to score. Ryan PALMER Palmer has one top-10 and three missed cuts in four starts at this event, but with his scoring ability he should perform well. Palmer was first in 2008 in birdie average at a rate of 4.16 birdies per round.