Week 1 Power Rankings: Mitsubishi Electric Champ.

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Editor's note: Vartan Kupelian is the Champions Tour Insider and a PGATOUR.COM Contributor. Each week, Kupelian will size up the field and provide his top five players going into the tournament, based on factors such as the player's strengths, the course setup, recent performances, etc.

The Champions Tour returns this week with the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. Bernhard Langer is the defending champion and "rookies" Fred Couples and Corey Pavin will make their Champions Tour debuts.

Langer posted a 1-shot victory over Andy Bean last year with Jay Haas finishing third three shots behind the winner. Hualalai is a Jack Nicklaus design that features lava rock as a signature visual hazard amidst all the spectacular views.

The tournament has a top-flight cast of past champions. In addition to Langer's victory last year, winners are Fred Funk (2008), Loren Roberts (2006), Dana Quigley (2005, 2003), Fuzzy Zoeller (2004), Tom Kite (2002) and Larry Nelson (2001).

Here is the first installment for 2010 of the Champions Tour Power Rankings:

Power Rankings: Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai

Rank Player   Comment Bernhard LANGER He's the defending champion, the reigning Player of the Year and a fast starter. That will be a tough combination to beat. Langer has a T3 at Hualalai in 2008 to go with his victory last year. Loren ROBERTS The Charles Schwab Cup winner in 2007 and 2009 still has that winning feeling after a terrific second-half in '09. The Boss of the Moss was T8 last year and 7th in '08 so he knows what Hualalai is all about. John COOK The runner-up in the Charles Schwab Cup to Roberts can't wait to get back out there - that's the way it is when you get on a roll. Finished '09 with two victories and two fifth-place finishes in the final four events. Jay HAAS Haas was at his best in '09 once he put an elbow issue behind him. Wins included a major, the Constellation Energy Senior Players, and the Greater Hickory Classic back-to-back, followed by runner-up finishes in the next two. Tom WATSON A nice warm-up at the Skins Game where he teamed with Jack Nicklaus to win could mean he's ready to triumph on the Champions Tour again after near-misses in '09, including a runner-up at the Senior Players and top eight finishes in three other majors.