Week 21 Power Rankings: Crowne Plaza Invitational

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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.

LISTEN: Mike Vitti discusses this week's rankings on the PGA TOUR Network. Click to listen

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.

The PGA TOUR stays in Texas this week for Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. The par-70 Colonial Country Club measures 7,054 yards and, with only three of the 12 par 4s measuring over 435 yards and three others measuring less than 400 yards, the course is viewed by many as one that rewards shotmaking over power.

The obvious stats to consider this week are driving accuracy and greens in regulation. A closer look at the ShotLink data revealed other areas to look at, including proximity to the hole, fairway GIR percentage, distance from edge of fairway from the tee, and birdie or better conversion percentage.

With that, here are the rankings. ...

Power Rankings: Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial

Rank Player   Comment Kenny PERRY He's finished in the top 10 in half of his '09 starts. A two-time winner at Colonial, he won both of those events at 19 under and ranked in the top 10 in driving distance, driving accuracy, greens in regulation, putting average, proximity to the hole, and scrambling. Geoff OGILVY Ogilvy has finished in the top 10 six times in 10 starts this season. He tied for seventh at the 2008 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and comes in this year ranked in the top 10 in total putting and birdie conversion percentage. Zach JOHNSON He has finished 30th or better in each of his three starts at this event, but he is making his first start at Colonial since 2006. The current FedExCup points leader, Johnson ranks in the top 25 in greens in regulation, driving accuracy, and proximity to the hole. Justin LEONARD Leonard has finished in the top 20 in the last two Texas events and enters this week in the top 20 in driving accuracy, proximity to the hole and putting average. He has finished in the top 10 five times in 15 starts at the Colonial and has never missed the cut. Brian DAVIS Davis notched his third consecutive top-5 finish at the HP Byron Nelson Championship and has posted 13 consecutive rounds below par. He tied for 59th in his first start last year at Colonial. Tim CLARK Clark has finished in the top 25 in his last four starts at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. He's currently ranked in the top 10 in driving accuracy and proximity to the hole and has finished in the top 25 in seven of his 11 starts this season. Rory SABBATINI Last week's winner of the HP Byron Nelson Championship, Sabbatini won the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial in 2007. He has a total of three top-10 finishes in eight career starts at this event. Paul CASEY Casey is making his first start at Colonial, but comes in having finished 20th or better in five of six starts on TOUR this season. He ranks in the top 25 in greens in regulation and putting average, and hits the green or fringe in regulation over 75 percent of the time. Briny BAIRD Baird enters the week ranked in the top 30 in driving accuracy, proximity to the hole, and greens in regulation. He is finding the green or fringe in regulation on 76 percent of his approach shots. He also posted his third top 10 of the year at the HP Byron Nelson. Jim FURYK Furyk has finished in the top 10 five times in 13 starts at Colonial. He has finished 11th or better in three of his last four starts and comes in ranked in the top 30 in driving accuracy, proximity to the hole and putting average.