Mar. 24, 2009
By Vartan Kupelian, PGATOUR.COM Contributor
Editor's note: Vartan Kupelian is the Champions Tour Insider and a PGATOUR.COM Contributor. Each week, Kupelian will size up the field and provide his top 5 players going into the tournament, based on factors such as the player's strengths, the course setup, recent performances, etc. MORE POWER RANKINGS: PGA TOUR | Nationwide Tour
The Champions Tour returns this week for the second Cap Cana Championship at Punta Espada Golf Club in the Dominican Republic.
Mark Wiebe is the defending champion. He charged to a four-stroke, wire-to-wire victory with three rounds in the 60s. The key sequence in the final round came on the par-5 sixth hole, where Wiebe made a 10-foot eagle putt to douse the hopes of challenger Vicente Fernandez, who had reeled off five straight birdies on the front nine to narrow the gap to two shots.
Wiebe survived high winds to post his second Champions Tour victory in two years. Expect more winds to go along with the sunny skies this week.
| Power Rankings: Cap Cana Championship |
 |
 |
Bernhard LANGER |
There's just no denying that he's the man to beat. Again. Langer has finished in the top 10 in each of his five starts this year and there's nothing to suggest there won't be another at Punta Espada Golf Club, a par-72, 6,889-yard course. |
 |
 |
Joey SINDELAR |
Only Langer has more top 10s this year than Sindelar's three in four starts. His last three starts have been a T7 at the ACE Group Classic, a T2 at the Toshiba Classic and a T4 at the AT&T Champions Classic. Tough to argue with that kind of consistency. |
 |
 |
Jay HAAS |
Showed excellent form with a third-place finish at the AT&T Champions Classic at 10-under par. He should feel good about returning to Punta Espada, where he tied for third last year behind Wiebe and Fernandez with rounds of 70-68-68. |
 |
 |
Greg NORMAN |
He doesn't often play on the Champions Tour but when he does the results are impressive. His three starts in 2008 produced a fourth at the U.S. Senior Open, a T5 at the Senior British Open and a T6 at the Senior PGA Championship. |
 |
 |
Jeff SLUMAN |
He has finished every tournament in red numbers this year. He's 33-under-par in five tournaments, with a best of 14-under in Hawaii where he tied for fourth. He's got three top-10 finishes and T11. Won twice last year and the first victory of 2009 can't be far off. |
|