Power Rankings: Valero Texas Open

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May. 10, 2010
By Rob Bolton, PGATOUR.COM Fantasy Columnist

This isn't your father's Valero Texas Open. It isn't your older brother's either. And it's not yours. This is the next generation of the event that dates back to 1922.

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Although Greg Norman never teed it up in one, he was employed to blast out a track north of San Antonio for what is the AT&T Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio. (Pete Dye designed the accompanying AT&T Canyons Course, which is not used this week.) Along with the eye of Sergio Garcia, who served as player consultant, Norman transformed a very natural piece of property into something you might see Down Under. It has teeth and muscle, and requires solid ball-striking with an added bonus for distance.

Local residents Cameron Beckman, Jimmy Walker and Jeff Burns are in the field, but you won't find them below. Instead, I'm offering a blend of good current form, experience, adroit wind skills and Australian touches. Expect scoring to rise as compared to the event's 15-year run at LaCantera.

Seasonable weather is in store. Gusty winds will help cool the field the first two days, when the high temp might hit 90 degrees. A moderate threat of rain and boomers enters the equation on Friday and will remain in the forecast through Sunday. The greatest risk is on Saturday. Any rain delays should be relatively brief.

Power Rankings: Valero Texas Open

Rank	Player		Comment
		Bo VAN PELT	Enters with three top fives in tow, including a T4 at THE PLAYERS. Leads the TOUR in ball-striking. He's 24th in driving distance and is a superb wind player. Sits inside the top 15 of birdies or better on par 4s and par 5s. Fatigue is a non-factor for the gypsy.
		John ROLLINS	Has three top 25s in his last four starts. Finished T13 at TPC Sawgrass. Hardly a surprise that he's currently fourth on TOUR in ball-striking (sixth in total driving). Ranks 14th in birdies or better on par 4s; 30th on par 5s.
		Ernie ELS	Making his first appearance here. Leads the TOUR in earnings and FedExCup points, and is the only guy in the top 15 from either list in the field. Coming off a missed cut at THE PLAYERS, but he's the big fish in a small pond this week. Bunker play alone is invaluable.
		Matt JONES	Might settle into a comfort zone in this home away from home. Last two starts: T10 at the Zurich Classic, T7 at Quail Hollow. Another continually underrated young Aussie with a game for windy conditions. Gunning to become third straight first-time winner on TOUR.
		Chad CAMPBELL	Continues to be beset by poor putting, but a new track can sometimes prove to be an elixir. He's 18th in ball-striking and 19th in total driving. And as you'd expect from most Texans, he's also a crafty wind player.
		Troy MATTESON	Virtually out of nowhere, he kept it under par every day at TPC Sawgrass en route to a season-best T17. He doesn't get hot often, but he can be streaky. He's 24th in ball-striking (third in greens hit) and 11th in driving distance.
		Charley HOFFMAN	Despite swallowing a 78 and 77 on Sundays at Quail Hollow and THE PLAYERS, respectively, his game is showing signs of life overall. The T22-payday at TPC Sawgrass is a season-best. Ranks 34th in ball-striking and 21st in driving distance.
		Fredrik JACOBSON	Like Jones above, the Swede has also moved up a couple of notches recently on the list of best never to have won a PGA TOUR event. Jacobson has five top 25s in 10 starts this year, including a T10 at THE PLAYERS, where he was under par every day.
		Adam SCOTT	Not as much of a leap of faith as you'd think. First, he has four top 30s in his last five starts (T26, THE PLAYERS). Next, he's third in ball-striking and 17th in distance off the tee. Last, there is unquantifiable karma in play given his relationship with Greg Norman.
		Bobby GATES	The Texas A&M product is currently No. 1 on the Nationwide Tour money list. On that circuit, he ranks 15th in ball-striking, eighth in driving distance and first in birdies. He gets a taste of the PGA TOUR beside the big boys a year early.