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Power Rankings for The Senior Open
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July 22, 2019
By Vartan Kupelian , PGATOUR.COM
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July 22, 2019
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Miguel Angel Jimenez will try and defend his title from 2018 at St. Andrews. (Getty Images)
Vartan Kupelian is a PGATOUR.COM contributor. Each week, Kupelian will size up the field and provide his top 10 players going into the tournament, based on factors such as the player's strengths, the course setup and other ret year.
Miguel Angel Jimenez became the first Spaniard to win The Senior Open presented by Rolex last year when he posted a 1-shot victory over Bernhard Langer on the Old Course at St. Andrews.
Jimenez closed with a final round 69 for a 12-under-par 276 total. Langer’s closing 68 gave him second place alone at 277. Scott McCarron, Stephen Ames and Kirk Triplett shot 28.
Jimenez will defend his title this week at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. He became the third straight international golfer to win the Senior Open, following Germany’s Langer and England’s Paul Broadhurst.
Jimenez posted top 10s in all five senior majors in 2018, averaging 68.40 in the majors.
“It's amazing,” Jimenez said “Obviously at St. Andrews (is) the Home of Golf, it's a place that many people want to win. Yes, Seve played well in the British Open, and so it's amazing to be here in this place with all these things, and my name is part of history.”
Jimenez became the second Spaniard to win on the Old Course, where countryman Seve Ballesteros won the British Open in 1984.
“Miguel played an awesome four days of golf, and he's a very well-deserved winner,” Langer said.
RANK PLAYER COMMENT 1 Retief Goosen The South African got off to a bit of a slow start on the PGA TOUR Champions but he hit full steam with his first victory at the Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship.The South African got off to a bit of a slow start on the PGA TOUR Champions but he hit full steam with his first victory at the Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship.2 Scott Parel Had four straight top 8 finishes before a T24 at the U.S. Senior Open; sixth at the Senior PGA Championship and T4 at SENIOR PLAYERS.Had four straight top 8 finishes before a T24 at the U.S. Senior Open; sixth at the Senior PGA Championship and T4 at SENIOR PLAYERS.3 Bernhard Langer Yes, he’s in a slump by his standards, but the three-time Open champion has been first or second six times in nine years at the Senior Open.Yes, he’s in a slump by his standards, but the three-time Open champion has been first or second six times in nine years at the Senior Open.4 Jerry Kelly On a roll like his pal Stricker with a run of 5 straight top 7s, including a win at the American Family Insurance Championship, and runner-up at the U.S. Senior Open but slipped to T34 at SENIOR PLAYERS.On a roll like his pal Stricker with a run of 5 straight top 7s, including a win at the American Family Insurance Championship, and runner-up at the U.S. Senior Open but slipped to T34 at SENIOR PLAYERS.5 Colin Montgomerie Monty is starting to string together strong play. He has five straight top 25 results and has five top 10s this season. He's finished in the top 25 in his two The Senior Open starts.Monty is starting to string together strong play. He has five straight top 25 results and has five top 10s this season. He's finished in the top 25 in his two The Senior Open starts.6 Miguel Angel Jiménez The defending champion loves this tournament and he’ll be ready for another banner week. Should be fresh after competing in The Open Championship.The defending champion loves this tournament and he’ll be ready for another banner week. Should be fresh after competing in The Open Championship.7 Tim Petrovic Turned in three of his best rounds of the year in a row at Firestone to finish T2 at the SENIOR PLAYERS. It was his first top 10 since February and he should build off that.Turned in three of his best rounds of the year in a row at Firestone to finish T2 at the SENIOR PLAYERS. It was his first top 10 since February and he should build off that.8 Fred Couples Couples' first round will be key. He posted a 75 in Round 1 at Firestone and still finished T22, which is his worst finish in six starts.Couples' first round will be key. He posted a 75 in Round 1 at Firestone and still finished T22, which is his worst finish in six starts.9 Tom Lehman Lehman of course won The Open in 1996 and had a beautiful moment with his son at The Open this year. He has finished T11 in his last two PGA TOUR Champions starts.Lehman of course won The Open in 1996 and had a beautiful moment with his son at The Open this year. He has finished T11 in his last two PGA TOUR Champions starts.10 Darren Clarke Darren Clarke narrowly missed making the cut at Royal Portrush and has three top 10s on PGA TOUR Champions this season.Darren Clarke narrowly missed making the cut at Royal Portrush and has three top 10s on PGA TOUR Champions this season. -
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