Power Rankings: THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola

In addition to the spoils of FedExCup bonus prize money, exemptions into the first three majors of 2011, the World Golf Championships-CA Championship and numerous other tournaments, the final top 25 of this carte blanche club will receive automatic invitations to the inaugural CIMB Asia Pacific Classic. (The top 25 "available" will gain entry). The 40-man field will compete for a $1 million first prize in the 72-hole, no-cut event in Malaysia on Oct. 28-31.

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Last week, in what was basically an extended introduction of what you normally read in this space, I laid out four factors to consider when sizing up the field at East Lake.

One of them is accuracy off the tee, which normally doesn't ping the radar; however, every year since 2004, East Lake has ranked inside the top 15 in fairways hit. Since Rees Jones returned for a tweak in advance of the 2008 edition, the premium on finding the short grass has spiked. In '08, ranking all six splits of proximity to the hole from lies off the fairway inside 175 yards, the track was among the top five most difficult in all of them.

This speaks to East Lake's length and slick greens. Last year, while the field average improved in most of those ranges, it struggled in proximity splits from off the fairway outside 125 yards, ranking in the top 11 in five of eight. The average of all approaches (on and off the fairway) settles in the middle of the board for most splits, thereby propitiating the straighter hitters on what is largely recognized as a long-hitter's delight.

Expect firm and fast greens as the TOUR rolls into town during a dry spell in Atlanta. A low threat of rain and storms enters the picture on the weekend; otherwise, look for lots and sunshine and high temps in the upper 80s. Wind is not expected to be a factor.

PGA TOUR PLAYOFFS FOR THE FEDEXCUP: FedExCup Standings | More coverage
THE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP: Inside the Field | Inside the Course | More coverage

Power Rankings: THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola

Rank Player   Comment Steve STRICKER The only guy to post top-10s in all three Playoffs events, and he still fell two spots in the standings from his starting point as No. 2. Ranks ninth in putting, 20th in fairways hit and second in the all-around. Matt KUCHAR First-timer at East Lake. Under the weather and under par at Cog Hill en route to a T3, his TOUR-leading 11th top-10. The Georgia Tech product, ranked eighth in putting and 29th in fairways hit, can slam the door on the FedExCup and Player of the Year. Jim FURYK Four top-10s in seven starts here including the last two. Ranks seventh on TOUR in fairways hit. Led the BMW in fairways hit en route to a T15. Enters 11th in FedExCup points (started third); still hoping to atone for the infamous DNP at The Barclays. Paul CASEY First-timer at East Lake. Clearly, his Ryder Cup snub has had zero effect on his game, having finished T25 at the Deutsche Bank and second at the BMW, where he posted four 69s and led the field in greens hit. He's a sneaky T28 in putting on TOUR. Adam SCOTT The 2006 champ at East Lake ranks T121 in putting and 85th in fairways hit, but he's tightened the screws recently with a T9, T5 and T15 in the three Playoffs events. Struggled badly on Cog Hill's back nine, where he carded 12 of his 14 bogeys. Zach JOHNSON Of the three Playoffs events, he was dialed-in off the tee and on the greens in the first two, but his best finish is a T15 at the BMW thanks to a T3 in greens hit (T46, putting). Best combination of putting (11th) and driving accuracy (ninth) in this field. Phil MICKELSON The only two-time winner at East Lake. Led field in putting and birdies a year ago; T12 in fairways hit. Won by three despite a quadruple bogey in the opening round. Coming off T8 at the BMW. Retief GOOSEN The 2004 TOUR Championship winner has four top 10s in five starts at East Lake, but finished 23rd last year in what was his first look at Rees Jones' latest version. He's put up three top 25s in the Playoffs, and has scored par or better in his last 13 rounds. Ryan MOORE First-timer at East Lake. Having started the BMW 58th in FedExCup Points, he's the lowest to advance after a T3 at the BMW, where he ranked second in greens hit and 27th in putting. Should thoroughly enjoy another Rees Jones redesign. Nick WATNEY Started the BMW 30th in FedExCup Points, and then clinched his berth here with a T15 on the strength of his all-around game -- T11 in fairways, fifth in distance, T12 in greens, 10th in putting. Placed T13 in his first go at East Lake last year. Dustin JOHNSON The BMW Championship winner ranked T7 in fairways and T6 in greens hit last year at East Lake, but finished 24th in putting. Fifth in putting at Cog Hill, which bodes well for an improvement over last year's 27th-place payday at East Lake. Ernie ELS His T13 at the BMW included a triple bogey on the 72nd hole. He hasn't had a top 10 anywhere in eight starts since the U.S. Open, but The Big Easy is historically money at East Lake, with five top 10s in seven appearances, including his last two. K.J. CHOI One of four to climb into the top 30 at the BMW, where he finished T3, his first top 10 since the Masters. Ranked T7 at Cog Hill in fairways and T6 in putting. Just two top 20s in five starts at East Lake, including his last appearance (ninth, 2008). Ben CRANE Hasn't qualified since 2005 (T7). Fits the profile at East Lake, ranking T21 on TOUR in putting and eighth in fairways hit. The break came at a great time, following a missed cut in Boston and T45 at the BMW. Justin ROSE Rebounded from his missed cut at the Deutsche Bank -- his first start since learning he wasn't a Ryder Cup captain's pick -- with a T21 at the BMW (T6 in putting). In his one previous go at East Lake (2007), placed T11 (T5 in fairways, eighth in putting). Luke DONALD Short and inaccurate off the tee, he buries himself with off-weeks like at Cog Hill, where he struggled with his irons. He closed with a 77 to finish T37. Finished T25 at East Lake last year, but had just one bad score (third-round 78). Camilo VILLEGAS After finishing T9 in 2007, he won this event in 2008 with outstanding ball-striking and clutch putting; he's the only winner at East Lake since 2002 that didn't rank inside the top three in putting (14th). Placed T11 at the BMW. Robert ALLENBY Having torn ligaments in his right knee just seven weeks ago, he's shown some mettle to qualify this week. The Aussie has played all 12 rounds and posted a T24 at the BMW (ninth in putting). Zero top 10s at East Lake in four starts. Charley HOFFMAN First-timer at East Lake. The Deutsche Bank champion was nearly flawless at TPC Boston, but retreated to his inconsistent form at the BMW (T30). An underrated putter (14th on TOUR), he's first in the birdies-or-better and bounce-back percentages. Tim CLARK Sitting fourth on TOUR in fairways, he's the most accurate in this field. Also 32nd in putting, but hasn't posted a top 20 in his last five starts. Struggled on East Lake's greens in his last start here (2008), ranking 29th, matching his leaderboard finish. Hunter MAHAN Since winning at Firestone, he's posted four consecutive finishes outside the top 30, exposing his average short game and inability to avoid big numbers at times. Enters T126 in putting, and finished 24th last year at East Lake. Geoff OGILVY Lost a bit of his mojo on the dance floor after a T2 at the Deutsche Bank, where he was T4 in greens and second in putting. Ranked T3 in GIR at the BMW but 57th in putting. Three top 20s in as many starts at East Lake, but zero top 15s. Kevin NA At 20th in FedExCup points, he's the highest to crawl into the finale after a T3 at the BMW, where he ranked outside the top 10 in all significant splits. Finished last here in 2009 in only career appearance, hitting a field-low 27 greens all week. Ryan PALMER First-timer at East Lake. While he ranks 18th on the PGA TOUR in putting, he hasn't cracked the top 30 in the stat in the Playoffs, instead getting around the rota with taut irons. Tied for 43rd at Cog Hill. Kevin STREELMAN First-timer at East Lake. Since the timely T3 at The Barclays, he's posted two finishes outside the top 40. Sets up well for East Lake in that he's 28th in putting and 61st in fairways hit. Jason DAY First-timer at East Lake. Although Charley Hoffman blitzed the field at TPC Boston, Day's closing 71 was disappointing. Then, he couldn't break par at Cog Hill, finishing T54. Ranks T69 in putting and 159th in fairways. Bubba WATSON In three starts since the PGA Championship (P2), he hasn't cracked a top 30. In his only previous appearance at East Lake, finished last (by three strokes) in 2008. Closed out the BMW with a 77 with three bogeys and four doubles. Bo VAN PELT First-timer at East Lake. Having started the Playoffs 13th in the standings, he hung on to final reservation for the finale, with seven more FedExCup Points than Bill Haas. BVP's torrid run ended with his T3 at Firestone. Jeff OVERTON First-timer at East Lake. Hit a wall following his T6 at Firestone, failing to post a top 55 in four starts. Ranks T21 on TOUR in putting and 18th in the all-around, but neither speaks to his recent inconsistency throughout the bag. Martin LAIRD First-timer at East Lake. Since his P2 at Ridgewood, his favorite course on TOUR, he finished T25 at the Deutsche Bank and T50 at the BMW, where his final-round 77 included four double bogeys. Ranks T119 in putting and 130th in fairways.