Power Rankings: AT&T National

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As if fans of classic golf courses needed a PGA TOUR event to confirm it, Aronimink Golf Club is a beast. The historic par-70 originally designed by Donald Ross in Newtown Square, Pa. can be stretched to 7,237 yards. In its debut as host of the AT&T National last year, it checked in at 71.218 strokes per player, finishing as the second-most difficult of the 14 par-70s on TOUR last year. And conditions were benign.

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Aronimink returns this week for its second of two turns as the destination for this tournament. Now that the U.S. Open is in the books, Congressional Country Club will resume as host in 2012.

While Aronimink tied for second-lowest birdie average (2.73) all of last year, it was a very average 25th in greens in regulation (65.50 percent). That speaks to the undulations that can lead to some tricky putts on greens that will run 11-12 on the Stimpmeter.

Therefore, the final leaderboard should be populated by guys who rank near the top in greens hit and bogey avoidance. And as always on difficult tracks, you can never rule out scrambling as a premium, but given the moderate challenge in hitting greens, I'm leaning more on bogey avoidance.

Meanwhile, unlike last week's test in Connecticut, look for a series of pars to clinch victory this week. Four of the last five holes at Aronimink ranked inside the top seven handicap holes for the week in 2010. And the course was left virtually untouched over the last 12 months. "The course is good enough that they don't need to do anything," course superintendent John Gosselin told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "[The PGA TOUR likes] coming to these older courses. The greens have got lots of movement, and it makes your job more interesting. So they don't feel a need. They haven't asked for anything."

Once a storm system passes through early in the week, primarily sunny skies are expected through Saturday. High temperatures will top out in the low-to-mid 80s before the cut and then leap into the low 90s on the weekend. Winds will be moderate at worst and are not forecast to play a prominent role.

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Power Rankings: AT&T National

Rank Player   Comment Ryan MOORE A Donald Ross special. Finished second here last year, ranking second in putting and T2 in birdies. Comes off a co-runner-up at the Travelers Championship, where he shot two 64s and a closing 63. Ranks 42nd on the PGA TOUR in bogey avoidance. J.B. HOLMES Capable of overpowering Aronimink as he did a year ago en route to a solo fifth; ranked third in distance of the tee and T3 in greens hit. Carded a bogey-free 66 in the finale. He's 12-for-12 this year and ranks 36th in GIR and 23rd in the all-around. Webb SIMPSON His tie for 13th last week was his third straight top 15 and seventh top 25 in his last eight starts. Led the Travelers field in putting and ranked tied for second in birdies. Sits 21st on TOUR in greens, ninth in bogey avoidance and continues to lead the all-around. Nick WATNEY A constant threat. Finished tied for seventh here last year. Missed the cut at the U.S. Open but tied for 13th at the Travelers Championship, where he was sixth in greens hit. Sits 13th in greens hit, sixth in the all-around and 10th in bogey avoidance. Bo VAN PELT Arrives with four consecutive top 15s, including a T13 at the Travelers Championship. Placed tied for 11th at Aronimink last year. Currently 23rd on the PGA TOUR in greens in regulation, seventh in the all-around and 35th in bogey avoidance. Bill HAAS First look at Aronimink. Took a week off following a tie for 23rd at the U.S. Open, his seventh top 25 on the season. Ranks sixth on the PGA TOUR in greens in regulation, 10th in the all-around and fourth in bogey avoidance. Jason DUFNER Top-10s in three of his last five starts going back to the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The underrated grinder is above average across the board and stands 34th in the all-around. Also 61st on TOUR in bogey avoidance. Charles HOWELL III Two-week break since sharing a season-best third place at FedEx St. Jude Classic, where he went bogey-free 12-under during a 56-hole stretch. Ranks 40th on TOUR in greens hit, 39th in the all-around and seventh in bogey avoidance. Carl PETTERSSON Quietly solid season, with three top 10s in 18 starts. Consecutive top 25s entering the week. Under par in last eight rounds, all on par-70 courses. Finished sixth here last year, ranking inside the top 20 in greens hit and putting. Mark WILSON Missed the cut by two strokes at last year's edition, but he's been a force in 2011, with two wins and two other top 10s, including at the Memorial Tournament just four weeks ago. Sits 35th on TOUR in greens in regulation and fifth in bogey avoidance.