Power Rankings: Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship

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

The Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship is the 18th of 24 official events on the Champions Tour, and the fifth and final major of 2011.

Mark O'Meara will defend his title over the 6,980-yard Westchester Country Club course designed by Walter Travis in 1922. The classic par 71 design has long been a favorite of golfers on the PGA TOUR.

The Senior PLAYERS, like each of the major championships, offers double points in the Charles Schwab Cup points race. With the race tightening and so much at stake, this week we've also doubled the Power Rankings to include 10 players.

O'Meara won his first career Champions Tour major in a playoff against Michael Allen at the TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm. O'Meara's three-foot putt on the first extra hole gave him the title. O'Meara and Michael Allen are both expected to be strong contenders at Westchester, along with the only two multiple winners this season, Tom Lehman and John Cook. Each has won three teams, with Lehman's victories including a major title at the Regions Tradition.

Four players have won the previous Champions Tour majors, so this week's event could be pivotal in deciding post-season honors and positioning going into the final stretch leading up to the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Harding Park

The Champions Tour Power Rankings for this week's Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship:

Power Rankings: Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship

Rank Player   Comment Tom LEHMAN Three victories, including a major, make him the mid-summer favorite for Player of the Year honors -- but the gap has narrowed. Corey PAVIN Posted top 8 finishes in five of his last six tournaments, including a third at the Senior British Open and T7 at the U.S. Senior Open. Westchester should be an excellent fit for the short-game wizard. Mark O'MEARA Runner-up at the U.S. Senior Open has played solid golf this season and his ability with the putter always puts him in with a chance. Mark CALCAVECCHIA He has the most impressive major championship form this year with three top-10 finishes in four chances, including a second and a third in the recent Senior British and U.S. Senior Open, respectively. Nick PRICE He's having a splendid season and he's got three top 10s in the major championships already.