Power Rankings: Viking Classic

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We are on!

Mother Nature will not interrupt this year's edition of the Viking Classic. In fact, just 10 days ago, in stark contrast to last year's washout, tournament director Randy Watkins was hoping the skies would open. "I'd love for it to rain this week," Watkins told The Clarion-Ledger at the time. "I wouldn't mind it. ... I want the golf course like it's intended play: firm and fast. I've never seen the golf course play better than it is right this minute." Watkins and the community are also buoyed by the fact that title sponsor, Viking Range Corporation, re-upped for 2011.

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Not a drop of precipitation will fall on the Jack Nicklaus-designed Annandale Golf Club this week. Sunshine is forecast throughout the tournament. High temperatures will start in the low 80s, and then fade into the 70s by Sunday. Despite the welcome conditions, the field will still have to negotiate gusty winds on top of the steady breezes that are expected to blow at over 10 mph for the duration.

Spectators will witness an air show, as greens in regulation are always at a premium at Annandale. Five of the last eight champs finished inside the top four in GIR. Meanwhile, with four par 5s, birdie conversions also jump off the page. The Bermuda greens are scheduled to run at about 11.5 on the Stimpmeter, which will allow guys to get aggressive. However, with lots of undulations -- what else would you expect from Nicklaus? -- poor putters will struggle keeping pace.

NOTE: Although the Yahoo! fantasy game has concluded, I will continue to write a weekly column for fantasy gamers throughout the Fall Series. Check out this week's version for more details on what to expect, as well as opinion on notables in the field that didn't crack the Power Rankings below.

VIKING CLASSIC: Inside the Course | Inside the Field | More coverage

Power Rankings: Viking Classic

Rank Player   Comment D.J. TRAHAN The 2006 champ has six top 10s on the PGA TOUR this year, including a solo 10th at the Deutsche Bank. He's fourth in greens in regulation and 31st in birdie average. He sinks or swims with his putter. Charlie WI Coming off T18 at the Deutsche Bank and T8 at the BMW. Showed some swagger in defending the stack-and-tilt method, but he's a better putter anyway, which bucks the formula at Annandale. However, can't ignore recent play and a T5 here in 2005. Bill HAAS With a T3 in 2007 and T4 in 2008, and the fact that he's 29th in greens and 48th in birdie average, he'd rank higher if he didn't have just one top 25 in his last eight starts this year (T22, Deutsche Bank). Heath SLOCUM Ninth consecutive appearance for the 2005 champion. Ranks third in all-time earnings here. Has cashed in 20 of 22 starts this season, including a T9 at The Barclays. He's 27th on the PGA TOUR in greens hit. Tom GILLIS Clinched his 2011 PGA TOUR card with a strong Playoff run -- T5, Deutsche Bank; T24, BMW. As the TOUR's leader in birdie average and with the freedom of job security, he's a bona fide threat this week. Chad CAMPBELL With zero top 45s in his last five starts, he qualifies entirely on history here. His most recent of four TOUR victories was at the 2007 Viking. Along with a solo second in 2001 and solo fourth in 2002, he's second in all-time earnings at Annandale. Boo WEEKLEY Another "home game" for the Florida Panhandle native. Last played here in 2007, finishing T3. Ranks 12th on TOUR in greens in regulation. Last notable finish was a T9 at The Greenbrier, another site where he has a connection with the locals. Troy MATTESON Thrives in the Fall Series, in which four of his nine top 10s (since 2007) have occurred. He leads the PGA TOUR in greens in regulation (71.51 percent). In two starts at Annandale, has finished T8 (2006) and T14 (2008). Jonathan BYRD First appearance since 2005, when he placed T17. Also has a T5 in 2002 and a T8 in 2004 here. Has cashed in seven of his last eight starts on the PGA TOUR, including a T10 at Turning Stone. Sit 36th overall in greens hit. John MERRICK Came through on cue in Reno with a season-best T3. Despite 21 paydays, he's still not guaranteed his 2011 TOUR card. Ranks ninth in greens hit and 91st in birdie average. (He's 11th in total birdies.) Placed T22 here in 2007.