Power Rankings: Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals

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If firing at flags and making birdies is good for golf -- and it is -- then the touring pros at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open will be pin-seeking perhaps more this week then they have all year.

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Although the third hole was reduced to a par-4 a year ago, making TPC Summerlin a par 35-36=71, the host course, which has been the singular venue for this tournament since 2008, still scored as the easiest of nine par 71s in all of 2009, averaging -1.848 strokes to par. (It was the second-easiest track on the PGA TOUR in its final year as a par 72 in 2008.) A total of 1,821 birdies were recorded last year, highest among all courses that hosted tournaments in 2010. Therefore, the formula is simple -- greens in regulation and birdie average. Last year's cut fell at 4-under 138.

Last year, Martin Laird finished tied for third in GIR and buried two eagles and 23 birdies en route to victory in a playoff over Chad Campbell (T1, GIR; two eagles, 21 birdies) and George McNeill (23 birdies). Laird, in his second season on TOUR last year, also extended the trend of virtual TOUR newcomers getting rich in Las Vegas. Andre Stolz (2004), Troy Matteson (2006), McNeill (2007) and Marc Turnesa (2008) all broke through here for victories in their rookie campaigns. Meanwhile, in 2005, playing on a Major Medical Extension that carried over from his rookie year of '04, Wes Short, Jr. emerged victorious as well. Since the event became a 72-hole affair in 2004, the highest winning aggregate is 266 (Stolz and Short, Jr.). Go low or go home.

A pesky weather system offers a chance of rain and boomers through Friday, finally giving way to drier conditions on the weekend. Daytime highs will hit 70 degrees, and the wind is not expected to play a major role. So, with potentially soft turf and little challenge from Mother Nature, Turnesa's tournament record 263 is in jeopardy.

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JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE: Inside the Field | Full Field | Inside the course

Power Rankings: Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open

Rank Player   Comment Nick WATNEY First start since sharing fourth place at THE TOUR Championship, where he co-led the field in greens hit. Ranks 25th on TOUR in GIR and sixth in birdie average. Poor record at the Timberlake overall, but shot 63 in the opening round in 2008. Lives in Vegas. Rickie FOWLER TPC Summerlin is his home course, and he's coming off a solo fourth at the Frys.com Open. Tied for seventh here last year, finishing T61 in greens, but fifth in putting (suggesting intimate course knowledge). Sits 24th on the PGA TOUR in GIR. Hunter MAHAN First start since the Ryder Cup. Posted top 25s in his last two starts here, including a T14 a year ago, when he ranked T8 in greens hit and T2 in birdies. In his last eight round at TPC Summerlin, has a 63 and a pair of 65s. Needs hot irons to contend. Chad CAMPBELL Lost to Martin Laird in a playoff last year, but co-led the field in greens hit and ranked T8 in putting. Tied for third in 2008, when he carded four eagles. Coming off a T13 at the Frys.com Open, where he finished T5 in greens and T3 in birdies. Charley HOFFMAN First start since a solo sixth at THE TOUR Championship for the UNLV product and current local resident. Has three top 15s in four starts here, including a solo sixth last year, when he ranked T5 in greens hit. Currently fifth on TOUR in birdie average. D.J. TRAHAN The 2007 runner-up here placed T7 (with three eagles) a year ago. Took two weeks off following his share of third place at the Viking Classic. Ranks fifth on the PGA TOUR in greens in regulation and 26th in birdie average. Charles HOWELL III Rested last week after closing his T6 at The McGladrey Classic with a bogey-free 62. Had just two holes over par all week in Sea Island. In 10 starts at this event, has five top 20s, including a T10 in 2008. John SENDEN First appearance in Vegas since 2005 (T25). In his last four starts going back to the Deutsche Bank Championship, he's netted three top-11 paydays, including a T9 at The McGladrey. Currently fourth on the PGA TOUR in greens in regulation. Graham DeLAET With three top 25s in the Fall Series, he's the only rookie with more than one. Coming off T6 at the Frys.com, where he ranked tied for fifth in greens hit. Potential letdown, however, as that six-figure payday secured fully-exempt status for 2011. Fredrik JACOBSON Enters on the heels of a T16 at the Frys.com Open, where he placed T18 in greens in regulation. In first start in Vegas, finished T24 a year ago. Currently 73rd on TOUR in GIR, 45th in birdie average and 24th in scoring average.