Power Rankings: AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am

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Out with the old and in with the ... old. For the first time since 1990, Poppy Hills GC will not be used for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Instead, the Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club makes its much-anticipated return to the lineup. It was last included in the rota in 1977. Its reconstruction in 2003 was the final job for Mike Strantz, who passed away in 2005. MPCC is the first Strantz design ever played on the PGA TOUR.

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There is another dynamic in play this week -- that little event in mid-June called the U.S. Open. Yet, only seven of the world's top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking are in the field this week. Granted, everyone making the scheduled 54-hole cut this week will play the host course just twice; the weather will be much different come June and there is no pro-am at the major, but it's a curious majority decision nonetheless. As a result, the field isn't as deep as you'd expect, although Sergio Garcia will be making his first appearance in the U.S. this year.

Despite a threat of rain on Friday, the tournament should return to crowning a 72-hole champion. High temps should flirt with 60 degrees and early wind forecasts are favorable.

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Power Rankings: AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am

Rank Player   Comment Retief GOOSEN Has played here just once, finishing third in last year's 54-hole edition. Only player with two eagles in '09. On a tear right now, with top 10s in eight of his last nine starts worldwide, including a fourth-place payday at the Sony Open and T6 at Kapalua. Dustin JOHNSON The defending champion is a proven mudder if it comes down to that again this week. His blend of power, precision and putting is special. Ranked first in distance here last year, and second in greens in regulation. Coming off T3 at Riviera. Brandt SNEDEKER Forgettable record at Pebble Beach, but has established new personal bests in all three of his previous starts in 2010. And no worries about the new grooves. He's first in both overall scrambling and scrambling from the rough. Mike WEIR Last year's runner-up has the best record of any non-winner, with seven top 10s in 12 starts. That includes five top 5s in his last seven. Fourth on all-time money list here behind Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh and Davis Love III. Luke DONALD NTO runner-up has three top-20s in five starts here. Co-owns the course record (62) at Spyglass. Switched caddies from brother, Christian, to John McLaren. Wife, Diane, is scheduled to give birth to the couple's first child soon. Might be more focused than ever. Jim FURYK Furyk, who last won in 2006, has a strong record here, with seven top 25s in 13 starts. In his 2010 debut at Riviera, he finished T20 and ranked first in fairways hits, T13 in greens in regulation and T22 in putting. MATT KUCHAR Polished off another great week with a 66 at the Northern Trust Open to finish T20. He's first on TOUR in total birdies and final round scoring average. Also has two top 15s in his last three starts at Pebble Beach. Phil MICKELSON Needed 120 putts at Riviera despite hitting a mediocre 62.5 percent of his greens. The three-time champ here hasn't broken 71 at any course in the rota in six rounds. Yet, he cannot be ignored in this field at this event. Davis LOVE III Winner in 2001 and 2003, his game matches up extremely well with the seaside nooks and crannies. His length is always a plus, and his experience on the poa annua greens and challenging weather adds to his value. Alex PRUGH With three straight top 10s entering this week, the rookie from Spokane, Wash., is turning heads. The momentum will eventually end but few are striking it better right now than this Nationwide Tour grad.