Power Rankings: TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola

text size

The chase for the dangling carrot is over. It's now time to witness who takes the biggest bite. It's the pinnacle. The promised land. It's the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola.

Got a fantasy question for Rob? Click here to e-mail him. You can also follow Rob on his Twitter account.

This year's exclusive guest list includes seven first-timers, two of which are featured below. The perks that all 30 in the field have already secured are too numerous to list here, but the still unclaimed nugget is the $10 million first prize for winning the FedExCup.

With a victory at East Lake Golf Club, any of the top five in points entering the week can clinch the eight-figure bank deposit, the sterling silver trophy and engraved real estate on it as the fifth champion. Of course, any in the field could earn the title with the right permutations. Jim Furyk arrived in Atlanta last year ranked 11th in the standings, then won the TOUR Championship and the FedExCup.

To put it mildly, the host venue, originally designed by Tom Bendelow and redesigned by Donald Ross, has a rich history. It's arguably best known as Bobby Jones' home course. Today's golf fans are likely to recall that the finishing hole is a par 3 (that can be played at 235 yards from the tips).

Most of this week's elite group will be pleased to see that the rough is quite playable due to a dry summer. The Atlanta area hasn't replayed the drought of 2008 but hitting fairways won't require the same elevated level of importance as in recent years.

Listen to Bolton

Golf fantasy expert Rob Bolton discusses his weekly Power Rankings on the PGA TOUR Network. Click to listen

Therefore, greens in regulation is the primary goal as the putting surfaces should hold incoming approaches even from lies off the fairway. The rough is merely 2-1/4 inches, so grooves should grab, allowing for a rise in birdie opportunities. And this is the first time in East Lake's 11 years as host that there hasn't been any changes to the course since the previous edition.

Rees Jones, who restored East Lake to Ross' vision in 1994, returned following the 2007 event to convert the greens from Bentgrass to Bermuda. It was a well-timed decision given that the track played as the easiest par 70 on the PGA TOUR in its last year with Bent. Since 2008, the winning aggregate hasn't been lower than 9-under 271.

A moderate chance of rain and thunderstorms remains in the forecast into Friday, but the weekend looks exceptional. High temperatures will climb into the upper 70s and winds are expected to be light throughout.

MORE: Rookies | Medical | Reshuffle | Inside the Field | Inside the Course | Coverage

Power Rankings: TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola

Rank Player   Comment Luke DONALD Runner-up here last year. Co-led after the first two rounds and ranked T3 in greens hit. Coming off a solo fourth at the BMW. Currently 31st on TOUR in GIR, second in strokes gained-putting and first in both adjusted scoring and bogey avoidance. Adam SCOTT Hasn't cracked the top 25 here in two appearances since winning at East Lake in 2006, but he's 28th on the PGA TOUR in greens hit and T44 in bogey avoidance. Inside the top seven in fairways and greens at Cog Hill. Top 10s in three of last five starts. Webb SIMPSON First start at East Lake. Enters atop the FedExCup standings. Solo fifth at the BMW was fourth consecutive top 10; led the field in greens hit at Cog Hill. Still leads the TOUR in the all-around. Also 10th in GIR and second in bogey avoidance. Nick WATNEY Closed out a T22 at the BMW with a bogey-free 67. Shared fourth here last year. Shot 12-under 58 spanning his sixth and seventh nines. Co-led the field in greens hit and ranked fifth in putting. Currently 34th in GIR and eighth in bogey avoidance. Justin ROSE En route to victory at the BMW Championship last week, ranked inside the top five at Cog Hill in fairways, greens and putting. Also led the field in birdies (and had an eagle). Ranks eighth on TOUR in greens hit and 36th in bogey avoidance. Jason DAY The PGA TOUR's leader in par-3 scoring should benefit from light rough at East Lake. Finished T17 in his first appearance here last year. Long and inaccurate off the tee but ranks 11th in bogey avoidance thanks to a taut greenside game. K.J. CHOI Shared 10th at the BMW Championship, his first top 30 in six starts. Since Bermuda grass was introduced at East Lake in 2008, he's posted top 10s in both appearances. Nothing flashy in any split as usual, but nothing of concern either. As usual. Matt KUCHAR Five straight top 25s despite a third-round 78 at the BMW, where he finished T22. Settled for a share of 25th place in his debut here last year. Currently 35th on the PGA TOUR in greens in regulation and fifth in bogey avoidance. Chez REAVIE First-timer at East Lake. Solo eighth at the BMW, where he was one of only three under par in every round. Three top 10s in his last four starts and seven top 20s in his last nine. Ranks sixth in total driving (17th in fairways) and 16th in greens hit. John SENDEN Months of above-average consistency boiled over at the BMW where he finished alone in second. Also ranked second in GIR at Cog Hill. Leads the TOUR in GIR and ranks 23rd in bogey avoidance. T10 at East Lake in his only appearance (2009).