Week 4 Power Rankings: FBR 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. 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.

Since 2000, the average winning score at the FBR Open is about 19-under par so, like last week, this event will take a lot of birdies to win.

Big hitter J.B. Holmes has won two of the last three FBR Opens, but do not be fooled into thinking that this is only bomber's paradise. Aaron Baddeley, Chris DiMarco, Rocco Mediate, Mark Calcavecchia, and Tom Lehman are all past champions of this event and they are not usually classified as big hitters.

Any player that is on his game has a chance here; they just have to be able to go low.

Power Rankings: FBR Open

Rank Player   Comment Phil MICKELSON A two-time winner at this event, Mickelson lost last year in a playoff to J.B. Holmes. He's finished in the top-10 nine times in 19 appearances, including four of his last five. Mickelson ranked seventh on TOUR in birdie average in 2008. Camilo VILLEGAS Villegas finished 2008 ranked fifth in birdie average, so he has the ability to go low. He also has had past success at the FBR Open, finishing T2 in 2006. Steve STRICKER Stricker had a rough final round at last week's Bob Hope Classic, but in the first four rounds his average score was an amazing 63.75. If he can repeat that performance in four rounds this week he will walk away with the trophy. J.B. HOLMES Holmes has overpowered this course in winning here two of the last three years, but hasn't started this season well. He missed the cut in his last start and recorded only one round in the 60s in his first two starts in '09. Holmes was 19th in birdie average in '08. Kenny PERRY Perry finished 2008 ranked sixth in birdie average and has five top 10s at this event. Seven of Perry's first eight rounds played in 2009 have been under par. Zach JOHNSON Johnson has not found great success at the FBR Open, but he comes in with two wins and two other top-10s in his last six starts on TOUR. Seven of his first eight rounds this year have been under par and Johnson has averaged 4.50 birdies per round. Charles HOWELL III Howell has never missed the cut in seven career starts at the FBR Open; however, he only has one finish in the top-20. He comes in playing well with a top-5 finish at the Sony Open in Hawaii, where all four of his rounds were in the 60s. Ryuji IMADA Averaging 4.85 birdies per round for the season, Imada has played his last seven consecutive rounds below par. He's had prior success at TPC Scottsdale, recording a T14 finish in 2007. Stuart APPLEBY Appleby is making his 2009 PGA TOUR debut at the FBR Open. Appleby finished tied for fourth at TPC Scottsdale in 2008 and was ranked eight on TOUR last season in scoring average. Robert GARRIGUS Alternate alert: Garrigus is currently on the alternate list to get into this event, but if he does he could be a factor. Garrigus currently leads the TOUR in driving distance and in 2008 he was second in birdie average.