Power Rankings: BMW Championship

For most non-majors, accuracy off the tee is a non-factor. That's hardly a secret, but this is a good week for that reminder.

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When Rees Jones redesigned Cog Hill's Dubsdread Course prior to last year's BMW Championship (and during the event's one-year stint at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis), it was for the primary purpose to attract the attention of the USGA for the then-undetermined site for the 2017 U.S. Open (Erin Hills won that bid.) Therefore, although the rough will be a mere three inches and greens will be rolling at 10-1/2 to 11 on the Stimpmeter, finding the short grass southwest of Chicago has taken on a higher purpose.

While the track finished a pedestrian 33rd in fairways hit among all courses used on the PGA TOUR in 2009, it ranked inside the top 15 most difficult in proximity to the hole from the rough in 10 of the 12 measured distances, including all five splits inside 150 yards. By comparison, it ranked inside the top 15 in proximities from the fairway in just one of 11 splits, and barely at that -- tied for 15th, 250-275 yards.

Meanwhile, Dubsdread ranked a sturdy 11th in greens in regulation. (It's the only other statistic that jumps off the page this week.) The aggregate of these two variables favors ball-strikers, but I'll lean heavier on anyone that is locked in right now. With no cut and a limited field, aggressive play is also rewarded.

Believe it or not, the remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine might inch far enough north to impact play on the weekend, if not sooner. If that's the case, you'd have to assume that a steady wind will blow at some point on Friday and/or Saturday.

PGA TOUR PLAYOFFS FOR THE FEDEXCUP: FedExCup Standings | More coverage
BMW CHAMPIONSHIP: Inside the Course | Round 1 Tee Times | More coverage

Power Rankings: BMW Championship

Rank Player   Comment Steve STRICKER Although his solo third in 2007 (pre-redesign) is his only top five at Cog Hill in his last 10 starts, he's on a tear. He's carded 14 straight rounds of par or better, and has started the playoffs with two top-10s. Played his first 54 holes at TPC Boston in bogey-free 13 under. Luke DONALD Highest finish (tied for second) among just players to go sub-70 in every round at the Deutsche Bank. Ranked third in greens hit and T2 in birdies. Despite a closing 73 at last year's BMW, he finished tied for 10th, and was third in putting. Jason DAY Couldn't find any momentum in the final round of the Deutsche Bank, where he closed with a 71 to share second place. Ranked tied for 22nd in fairways, tied for 16th in greens, fifth in putting and fourth in birdies. Only golfer with a pair of top fives in the Playoffs. Stewart CINK With a tie for 18th at the Deutsche Bank, he extended his string of top-20s to four. Solid record at Cog Hill, pre-and post-redesign -- T4 (2006), T7 (2007), T23 (2009). Hitting over 64 percent of his fairways; hadn't cracked 60 percent since '05. Matt KUCHAR Placed tied for 11th at the Deutsche Bank despite a 72-71 weekend. Led the field in putting, but only because he was tied for 59th in greens hit. Still leads in FedExCup points, the all-around and adjusted scoring average. Finished tied for 10th at the 2009 BMW. Adam SCOTT On quite a run, with top-10s in three of his last four starts, including a tie for fifth at TPC Boston, where he tied for seventh in greens hit, sixth in putting and tied for ninth in birdies. Also had just six bogeys. Tied for fourth at Cog Hill in 2007. Tiger WOODS Showing glimmers of hope. Nearly back-doored a top 10 at the Deutsche Bank (tie for 11th) thanks to a near-vintage short game -- just seven bogeys and nothing worse all week; T65 in fairways hit. Five-time winner at Cog Hill. Jim FURYK With eight top-seven finishes in his last 10 starts at Cog Hill, including a victory in 2005 and a tie for second in '09, it's no wonder that he's second in all-time earnings at the event. Coming off a tie for 37th at TPC Boston, where he was second in fairways hit. John SENDEN Thanks to torrid putting, the solid ball-striker finished T15 at The Barclays and eighth at TPC Boston. Ranks second in total distance of putts made at Ridgewood (399 feet, 11 inches) and third at TPC Boston (420 feet, three inches). Tied for 20th at BMW in 2009. Bubba WATSON Reputation pick here. Hasn't cracked a top 30 in the Playoffs yet, but distance off the tee and ability to shape shots are secondary advantages at Cog Hill, where he's posted top 20s in his last two starts. Ranks 23rd in greens in regulation.