Power Rankings: John Deere Classic

The Stricker Slam. That's what's at stake this week.

Only five times in history has a golfer won the same tournament in four consecutive editions. Steve Stricker is gunning to join that exclusive club.

Young Tom Morris was the first member when he won the British Open from 1868-1872. (The tournament was not contested in 1871.) Walter Hagen joined him with four straight victories at the PGA Championship in 1924-27. Gene Sarazen strung together wins at the Miami Open in 1926 and 1928-30. (The gap was due to a schedule change.)

Most recently, Tiger Woods has added his name to the list twice. After four in a row at Bay Hill in 2000-03, he emerged victorious at the Buick Invitational from 2005-08. He won the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational in four consecutive starts (2005-07, 2009), but missed the 2008 edition after having reconstructive surgery on his left knee.

Stricker's reign at TPC Deere Run since 2009 has included three eagles and 76 birdies. That equates to a par-breaker split of a staggering 36.57 percent. His actual scoring average over his last 12 rounds is 65.33.

Last year's triumph was punctuated with a birdie-birdie finish for a one-stroke margin over Kyle Stanley. After converting a birdie from just inside 15 feet at the par-4 17th hole to grab a share of the lead, Stricker found a fairway bunker off the tee at the par-4 18th hole. He then muscled an approach that dripped off the back edge of the green, 25 feet from the hole. From there he drilled the birdie to nip Stanley and set the table for potential history this week.

TPC Deere Run is a par 71. It's hosted this event since 2000 and serves as a haven for guys that love to go low. All of the 12 champions have scored 16-under 268 or deeper. Stricker's 26-under 258 in 2010 is the tournament record. That was the week when he opened with a 60 and sat one back of Paul Goydos' overnight lead following the fourth 59 ever on the PGA TOUR.

Last year's birdie average of 4.24 was a record high for the host track that measures 7,268 yards. Its scoring average of 69.608 was the fourth-easiest of 11 par 71s used in non-majors last year. The field averaged more than 70 percent in greens in regulation and recorded a putting average of 1.746, good for ninth-easiest on TOUR and very much in line with the course's profile over the years.

The weather is expected to cooperate throughout the week as the drought in the Midwest continues. Sunshine and high temperatures right around 90 degrees will serve as the norm. Winds are forecast to be light.

Power Rankings: John Deere Classic

Rank Player   Comment Steve STRICKER Arguably the most deserving to sit atop any version of the Power Rankings all season. The three-time defending champ is chasing history this week. Hasn't done anything to warrant a lower position. Four top 10s in 11 starts this year. Zach JOHNSON The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native has faded since a torrid stretch in April and May, but he's posted top threes in two of his last three trips to TPC Deere Run. Ranks fifth in Strokes Gained-Putting, 16th in birdie average and 10th in adjusted scoring. Charley HOFFMAN The co-runner-up at the recent Travelers Championship ranks 30th on the PGA TOUR in greens in regulation and 33rd in birdie average. Three top 25s in his last five starts. Placed T15 at TPC Deere Run in 2009 and T7 in 2011. Jonathan BYRD The 2007 champion arrives having made the cut in seven consecutive starts, a stretch that includes five top 25s. Ranked T2 in birdies at The Greenbrier Classic where he finished T22. Five top 10s on the season matches a career high. Scott PIERCY Placed T12 at The Greenbrier Classic (just six bogeys all week) to support the label as one of the most dangerous after making a cut. Nine of his 11 cuts made have resulted in top 25s. Ranks 27th on the PGA TOUR in final-round scoring average. Carl PETTERSSON Tied for 17th at The Greenbrier Classic where he carded just three bogeys on his last 57 holes. Never one to shy away from going low, he's 76th on TOUR in greens hit but 26th in birdie average. Finished fifth at the 2007 edition of the John Deere. Ken DUKE He's posted a top 10 in six consecutive months including last week's T7 at The Greenbrier Classic, his fifth such finish. Ranks 35th on TOUR in birdie average and sixth in scoring average before the cut. Placed T18 at the John Deere in 2008. Sean O'HAIR Recorded his first of four PGA TOUR victories here in 2005. Returns after a three-year hiatus. Top 25s the last two weeks including a T7 at The Greenbrier Classic where he led the field with 21 birdies. Ranks 12th on TOUR in birdie average. Charles HOWELL III Results have been flat over his last nine starts, none of which have gone for a top 25. However, he's 6-for-6 at TPC Deere Run with five top 25s including a T5 a year ago when he carded bogey-free rounds to open (66) and close (64). Jeff OVERTON Hasn't teed it up at TPC Deere Run since a T24 in 2008. Finished T10 in his debut here in 2006. Three consecutive top 25s entering the week, including a T17 at The Greenbrier Classic. Sits 86th on TOUR in greens hit but T13 in birdie average.

MORE: Rookies | Medical | Reshuffle | Major qualifiers

In 2012, our expert will be publishing his list of players who didn't quite make the top 10 for that particular week. Here are five other players Rob Bolton likes at TPC Deere Run:

11. John Senden ... TPC Deere Run is the site of his lone PGA TOUR title (2006). Most recently, he shared 12th place here in 2010. Took the last few weeks off following a T10 at the U.S. Open. The legendary ball-striker ranks 10th on the PGA TOUR in birdie average.

12. Brendon de Jonge ... Failed to recover following his Sunday fade at Congressional two weeks ago, settling for a T52 at The Greenbrier Classic. He sat two strokes off the lead at last year's John Deere before posting his second consecutive share of seventh place.

13. Tim Clark ... Sterling record at TPC Deere Run: solo second (2007), T18 (2008), T7 (2010). Shared fourth place in his last start at the Travelers Championship, his first top 15 since having surgery on his right elbow 11 months ago.

14. Ryan Palmer ... Relentless over his last six starts, posting four top 10s. Also logged a T15 in his last event (AT&T National). He's missed four of seven cuts at TPC Deere Run, but currently ranks T13 on the PGA TOUR in birdie average and 11th in adjusted scoring.

15. Daniel Summerhays ... Cracked seven figures in earnings this season with a solo fifth at The Greenbrier Classic, his fourth top 10 of the year, three of which are top fives. Played his final 49 holes last week in bogey-free 11-under. Sits 12th on TOUR in GIR.