Aug. 17, 2009
By Mike Vitti, PGATOUR.COM
EDITOR'S NOTE: Mike Vitti is a stats guru who analyzes all kinds of data from our ShotLink numbers.
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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: JELD-WEN Tradition | Christmas in October Classic
The Wyndham Championship is the final event before the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. Next week, the top 125 on the FedExCup points list will advance to the first round of the Playoffs, while the rest get a few weeks off.
There are two groups of players in the field this week. One group is looking to put together four great rounds and move in to The Barclays field. The other group has already secured a spot but is trying to get in position to make a strong run at winning the FedExCup.
Even with two par-4 holes measuring over 500 yards this week, players in either of the two groups will have to go low to achieve their respective goals. The winning score at this event has been at least 18 under in five of the last six years and it was 22 under in three of those instances.
| Power Rankings: Wyndham Championship |
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Lucas GLOVER |
Glover has posted top-25s in the last four years in Greensboro, plus he has finished in the top 25 in half of his starts this year, including a fifth-place finish at the PGA last week. A win this week could move him into second place entering the Playoffs. |
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David TOMS |
Toms' seven top-10s in '09 included three runner-ups but no wins. He's second in driving accuracy, seventh in proximity to the hole, 14th in scrambling and third in scoring average. A win could move him into the top 10 entering the Playoffs. |
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Tim CLARK |
Clark, who's ranked in the top 5 in scoring average, posted his ninth top-25 finish of '09 at the PGA. He tied for sixth in two of his last three starts at Greensboro. A win this week could move him into the top 10 entering the Playoffs. |
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Jonathan BYRD |
In five career starts in Greensboro, Byrd has four top-25 finishes. He's currently 22nd in driving distance, eighth in GIR, and fifth in par breaker percentage. Byrd has made it to the weekend in 11 of his last 12 starts, finishing in the top 25 in half of them. |
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Fred COUPLES |
In limited action in '09, he has earned three top-10s. He ranks in the top 20 in driving distance, proximity to the hole, birdie conversion percentage and par breakers. Couples, who's 90th in FedExCup points, hasn't played in Greensboro since 1993. |
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John SENDEN |
He tied for sixth in Greensboro last year and has posted eight straight rounds of par or better at this event. He leads the TOUR in GIR and is 17th in scoring average. He also went 292 consecutive holes without a three-putt, the longest streak this year. |
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Charley HOFFMAN |
He's picked up top-25s in 10 of 20 starts this year, but has missed the cut in his last three starts. In two starts in Greensboro, he has made the cut but hasn't finished in the top 40. He is in the top 20 in putts per GIR and is eighth in par breaker percentage. |
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K.J. CHOI |
Choi won this event in 2005 and has four top-10s in six starts. He hasn't played in Greensboro since 2006, though, and hasn't played Sedgefield, which could be a factor. Choi's T24 at the PGA was his sixth top-25 finish of '09. |
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Bubba WATSON |
He's second in driving distance and sixth in birdie conversion percentage. At 10th in par breaker percentage, he has made birdie or better on over 20 percent of the holes he has played in '09. |
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Carl PETTERSSON |
It hasn't been a great year for Pettersson. At 151st in the FedExCup standings, he's on the outside looking in and needs a great week. He is the defending champion, though, and hasn't posted higher than a 68 in his last four rounds at Wyndham. |
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