Power Rankings: SBS Championship

text size

To the victors go the spoils. There is a reason that getting to Kapalua is cited so many times in interviews after victories. Forget about the guaranteed payday and head start on the rest of the membership. It's in Maui!

Related

Ranking every PGA TOUR pro
Top 100 Players to Watch
Burning questions for 2010
Adam Barr's Equipment Insider
Analyzing the SBS Champ. field
Fantasy Insider: SBS Champ.

And this year, it has a new title sponsor. In May 2009, Seoul Broadcasting System inked a 10-year pact with the PGA TOUR for this annual clambake, and it intends to keep the event at the postcard venue.

So if you needed a final influence to splurge on the HD big-screen ...

Like most outdoor activities on the islands, the trade winds (northeasterly) will directly influence the results of the PGA TOUR's 2010 lid-lifter. The forecast calls for breezes in the 10-15 mph range all week, which is typical.

The largest greens on TOUR will also greet the 28-man field (down from 31 eligible, as Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Henrik Stenson declined the invite), so while the course can stretch to over 7,400 yards, the margin of error for approaches is significant, a nice side-benefit as the guys shake off the offseason rust.

When winds are light, scores will dip into the mid-60s for the more aggressive iron players and purer putters.

So here we go, my top-10 picks for the TOUR's season-opener:

Power Rankings: SBS Championship

Rank Player   Comment Ryan MOORE Sneaky-long first-timer is also crafty tee to green (33rd in both driving distance and ball-striking in '09). New putter led to Wyndham win, providing a jolt of confidence that he parlayed into three top-10s to end his year, including a solo 3rd at the HSBC Champions. Steve STRICKER Runner-up here in '08, he improved his tee ball accuracy in the second half of '09, so much so that he finished up over 10 percent in that category over all of '08. But he gets the nod here because he was the TOUR's No. 1 putter in '09. It's a lethal combo. Kenny PERRY Elbow tendinitis and a slightly shorter tee ball aside, he could romp if his putter gets hot at Kapalua, like it did at the Travelers. Was 3rd in total driving and 10th in ball-striking in '09, but his marquee value transcends the stats. Placed T6 a year ago here. Nick WATNEY A good fit for long courses (2nd in par-5 birdie percentage), he is also underrated in mid-range putting (14th from 15-25 feet), which is vital this week. Finished T5 here in 2008, his last appearance. Zach JOHNSON His wicked irons and propensity to go low position him as a top contender. Not long off the tee by any means (143rd in distance), ZJ will need to tear up the par 4s to win (3.99 scoring average on par 4s was one of just eight under par in '09). He was also T6 in '09. Geoff OGILVY Defending champ is only previous winner of the event in the field. Was 24-under-par on par 4s and 5s last year. Previous eight rounds at Kapalua: 7-over. Busy fall ended with a T7 at the Aussie PGA. Dustin JOHNSON Classic bomber has an iron game to match, but gets little credit for his putting (29th in 2009). Frequent wayward tee balls will matter little. Placed solo 11th in his first appearance here a year ago. Sean O'HAIR Everything rests on his putter (113th in 2009), but a bogey-free, final round 65 here a year ago en route to a solo 4th proves that he can tame the beast. Lucas GLOVER He can be a surgeon, as witnessed at Bethpage. Tee-to-cup, he ranks with the best (37th in ball-striking; 51st in putting). In his only previous trip to Kapalua, he finished 6th in 2006. Matt KUCHAR Now 31, he's finally coming of age. Blistering fall was headlined by playoff win at Turning Stone, where he might not defend now that it's opposite the WGC-Bridgestone in August. He was 31st in birdie average in 2009 and 29th in putting -- a reliable recipe this week.