Week 31 Power Rankings: Legends Reno-Tahoe Open

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

LISTEN: Brian Wacker 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 winner of the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open usually has to go pretty low to win the event, and that will probably be the case again this season.

However, there is something interesting about Montreux Golf and Country Club -- it was one of only 10 courses in 2008 where the field recorded more than 200 scores of double bogey or higher. Of all of the courses played in 2008, it is the also only one to have players post over 1,500 scores below par while recording so many of the dreaded "others".

So who has what it takes to tame this risk/reward layout?

Power Rankings: Legends Reno-Tahoe Open

Rank Player   Comment Vaughn TAYLOR After missing the cut in five of his seven previous starts, Taylor tied for eighth at last week's Buick Open. He is looking to keep a perfect record at the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open, as Taylor has only played in the event twice and has won both times. Charl SCHWARTZEL Schwartzel has 10 top-25 finishes in his last 15 starts worldwide in 2009. He is a long hitter who also ranks among the leaders on the European Tour in putts per round, putts per greens in regulation, and stroke average. Charley HOFFMAN Hoffman has made the cut in 17 of 18 events this season and has finished in the top 25 in 10 of those starts. He ranks eighth in driving distance, plus he's tied for 13th in putts per greens in regulation and tied for 12th in scoring average. Daniel CHOPRA Chopra has two top-10 finishes in four starts in Reno. He missed the cut last week, but had two top-25 finishes in his three prior starts. He ranks 18th on the PGA TOUR in driving distance on all drives and is also 20th in putts per GIR. Ben CRANE Crane ranks in the top 30 on TOUR in scoring average, sand save percentage, and average distance of putts made. He is coming off of a T6 at the Buick Open and has made the cut in each of his three appearances in Reno - including a top 10 in '02. Kevin NA Na has finished in the top 25 in half of his 20 starts this season and finished in the top 10 in each of his two additional field starts this season. He ranks in the top 25 in putts per greens in regulation and scoring average. Greg CHALMERS He posted four rounds in the 60s at the Buick Open and tied for second, plus he has finished in the top 20 three times in his last five starts. He ranks 134th in driving accuracy, but he ranks second on TOUR in proximity to the hole from the rough. Kevin STADLER Stadler has made the cut in his last three starts and posted rounds of par or better in 10 of the 12 rounds he played. He tied for second in Reno in 2007 and has made the cut in his three starts at this event. Ryan PALMER Palmer tied for fourth at the 2008 Legends Reno-Tahoe Open and arrives having posted two of his three top-25 finishes for the season in his last four starts. He ranks in the top 25 in both putting inside of 10 feet and putting from 20-25 feet. Harrison FRAZAR In nine starts here, he has two top-fives (including last year's T4) and three other top-20s. He has been inconsistent in '09, but he's played better lately, with two top-20s in his last six starts. Plus, he has shot par or better in each of his last 10 rounds.