Power Rankings: Senior British Open

text size

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 5 players going into the tournament, based on factors such as the player's strengths, the course setup, recent performances, etc.

Loren Roberts returns to Carnoustie this week to defend his Senior British Open title.

Roberts won his second Senior British at Sunningdale last year in a playoff against Fred Funk and Mark McNulty.

Roberts, who also won the title in 2006 at Turnberry, went birdie-par-par in the playoff. Final-round 67s by Roberts and Funk and a 64 by McNulty enabled the trio to catch and pass 54-hole leader Greg Norman.

It was that victory which earned Roberts a spot in last week's Open Championship on the Old Course at St. Andrews.

This week's Champions Tour Power Rankings for the Senior British Open:

Power Rankings: The Senior British Open

Rank Player   Comment Tom LEHMAN Winner of the season's first Champions Tour major, the Senior PGA, in a playoff, he has six top 10s in 11 Tour starts. He was in contention on the Old Course with some solid play and there is no indication that won't be the case at Carnoustie. Mark CALCAVECCHIA After a fine showing on the Old Course, he returns to Carnoustie, where he tied for 23rd at the 2007 Open Championship. The 1989 winner of the Claret Jug has been energized by the Champions Tour and victory shouldn't elude him for long. Loren ROBERTS Three straight top-5 finishes, including a victory, and a respectable showing on the Old Course have Roberts hitting top gear. A new driver has given him some extra yards and more confidence starting the stretch of Champions Tour majors. Corey PAVIN Carnoustie is a beast but Pavin has the savvy and shotmaking skills to challenge. He's No. 2 in scoring average on the Champions Tour (68.29) and his combination of driving accuracy and greens in regulation will be big at Carnoustie. Tom WATSON Didn't quite click on the Old Course but game didn't seem far off. Maybe there was just too much emotion in his farewell to St. Andrews to allow him to play his best golf. Carnoustie, where he won his first Open in 1975, will be different.