Power Rankings: TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola

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POWER RANKINGS

Power Rankings: TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola
- September 08, 2014
  By Rob Bolton, PGATOUR.COM Follow @RobBoltonGolf
Rickie Fowler is No. 9 in the FedExCup standings and is expected to be in the mix at East Lake Golf Club. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

The 2013-14 PGA TOUR season is about to wrap. There's just the little ol' matter of determining who wins the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and the eighth edition of the FedExCup. If the champion at East Lake Golf Club emerges from the top five in the FedExCup standings, he'll automatically claim the FedExCup as well. That would translate into a cool $11.44 million payday, $10 million of which is bonus prize money. So, that's all.

By merely advancing to the elite field in Atlanta, the 30 qualifiers, 29 of whom are expected to compete, already know that they're exempt into the first three majors of 2015 as well as the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship. They don't have to sweat a cut yet again this week and will be tackling a host course that rolled over for last year's field.

Average 69.383 in 2013, East Lake ranked as the second-easiest par 70 all season. That's also the lowest scoring average since Bentgrass greens were replaced with Miniverde Bermudagrass prior to the 2008 TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. Greens average 6,200 square feet and are expected to be slick. Both nines are par 35s and the course can stretch 7,307 yards.

Last year's field averaged a six-year high 69.12 percent of the greens in regulation and a six-year low 35'2" in proximity to the hole. Henrik Stenson's winning aggregate of 13-under 267 also set the new standard with the new putting surfaces. He ranked second in strokes gained-putting and co-led the field in both greens hit and the all-around.

Aside from rain during the third round last year when scoring was at its highest of the week at 70.233, Mother Nature didn't defend East Lake. Inclement weather cannot be ruled out early this week as a gradually decreasing chance for rain and boomers extends into Saturday. High temperatures in the upper 80s and humidity will accompany the threat. A pleasant but potentially breezy Sunday awaits.

Here are the rankings for the 29 players in the field (No. 30 Dustin Johnson has taken a leave of absence and will not play).

POWER RANKINGS: TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP BY COCA-COLA

RANK

PLAYER

COMMENT

1		Rory McIlroy	Despite two four-putts, a T8 at the BMW was his 11th top 10 of the season. Tied for 10th in his only previous start at East Lake in 2012.
Despite two four-putts, a T8 at the BMW was his 11th top 10 of the season. Tied for 10th in his only previous start at East Lake in 2012.

2		Jim Furyk	Last victory anywhere occurred at East Lake in 2010 when he won the FedExCup. T4 at the BMW was his fifth top 10 in his last seven starts.
Last victory anywhere occurred at East Lake in 2010 when he won the FedExCup. T4 at the BMW was his fifth top 10 in his last seven starts.

3		Rickie Fowler	His T4 at the BMW is his seventh top 10 in last eight starts. During stretch, he's risen over 100 spots to T42 in strokes gained-putting.
His T4 at the BMW is his seventh top 10 in last eight starts. During stretch, he's risen over 100 spots to T42 in strokes gained-putting.

4		Billy Horschel	Epitome of how confidence and good putting feed each other. Brushed off T2 at TPC Boston with win at the BMW. T7 in debut here last year.
Epitome of how confidence and good putting feed each other. Brushed off T2 at TPC Boston with win at the BMW. T7 in debut here last year.

5		Jordan Spieth	Ended a relative slump with a T8 at Cherry Hills where he shared the 18-hole lead. Co-runner-up in his first start at East Lake last year.
Ended a relative slump with a T8 at Cherry Hills where he shared the 18-hole lead. Co-runner-up in his first start at East Lake last year.

6		Bubba Watson	Rode three straight 66s at Cherry Hills to a solo second. Led field in strokes gained: tee-to-green. T5 in last trip to East Lake in 2012.
Rode three straight 66s at Cherry Hills to a solo second. Led field in strokes gained: tee-to-green. T5 in last trip to East Lake in 2012.

7		Bill Haas	Victorious in first look at East Lake in 2011 and won FedExCup. No worse than T16 (BMW) in last four starts; red numbers in 15 of last 16.
Victorious in first look at East Lake in 2011 and won FedExCup. No worse than T16 (BMW) in last four starts; red numbers in 15 of last 16.

8		Justin Rose	Steady of late, but not scoring relative to the field. Solo second (2012) and solo sixth (2013) in his last two appearances at East Lake.
Steady of late, but not scoring relative to the field. Solo second (2012) and solo sixth (2013) in his last two appearances at East Lake.

9		Adam Scott	Won at East Lake in 2006, but has just one top 10 in four tries on the new greens. No worse than a T16 (Deutsche Bank) in last nine starts.
Won at East Lake in 2006, but has just one top 10 in four tries on the new greens. No worse than a T16 (Deutsche Bank) in last nine starts.

10		Sergio Garcia	A snowman on the penultimate hole at Cherry Hills was untimely, but the third-round 72 wasted his 36-hole lead. T9 here last year.
A snowman on the penultimate hole at Cherry Hills was untimely, but the third-round 72 wasted his 36-hole lead. T9 here last year.

11		Ryan Palmer	A T74/MDF at The Barclays is the anomaly. Two top fives and a T16 in his other three most recent starts. Led BMW in par-4 scoring.
A T74/MDF at The Barclays is the anomaly. Two top fives and a T16 in his other three most recent starts. Led BMW in par-4 scoring.

12		Martin Kaymer	Making his TOUR Championship debut. Backed up a T7 at TPC Boston with a T16 at Cherry Hills where he ranked T2 in greens in regulation.
Making his TOUR Championship debut. Backed up a T7 at TPC Boston with a T16 at Cherry Hills where he ranked T2 in greens in regulation.

13		Geoff Ogilvy	Joins fellow Aussie John Senden as only two to advance to finale after starting outside top 30. Ogilvy has top 20s in all five starts here.
Joins fellow Aussie John Senden as only two to advance to finale after starting outside top 30. Ogilvy has top 20s in all five starts here.

14		Jimmy Walker	After leading FedExCup standings for most of the season, arrives sixth in points for his debut at East Lake. T9 and T20 in last two starts.
After leading FedExCup standings for most of the season, arrives sixth in points for his debut at East Lake. T9 and T20 in last two starts.

15		Zach Johnson	Record at East Lake includes course-record 60 in 2007 (pre-Bermudagrass) and a T7 last year. No top 15s in last six starts entering, though.
Record at East Lake includes course-record 60 in 2007 (pre-Bermudagrass) and a T7 last year. No top 15s in last six starts entering, though.

16		Webb Simpson	Tied for fifth at East Lake in 2012 and finished fourth in 2013. Shares unofficial course record on the new greens (63, 2013 finale).
Tied for fifth at East Lake in 2012 and finished fourth in 2013. Shares unofficial course record on the new greens (63, 2013 finale).

17		Morgan Hoffmann	Debut. Started each of first three events outside the bubble. Closed out solo third at BMW in 62-63=125, good for the season low on TOUR.
Debut. Started each of first three events outside the bubble. Closed out solo third at BMW in 62-63=125, good for the season low on TOUR.

18		Gary Woodland	Steady Playoffs so far with T13, T29 and T23, respectively. Second consecutive season in which he's advance after starting outside top 30.
Steady Playoffs so far with T13, T29 and T23, respectively. Second consecutive season in which he's advance after starting outside top 30.

19		Hunter Mahan	Since winning The Barclays, he was chosen for the Ryder Cup team, but finished a respective 64th and T59 in his last two starts.
Since winning The Barclays, he was chosen for the Ryder Cup team, but finished a respective 64th and T59 in his last two starts.

20		Matt Kuchar	Co-leads the TOUR with 11 top 10s, but placed T29 and T46 since his caddie's wife died. Three of four results at East Lake are T20 or worse.
Co-leads the TOUR with 11 top 10s, but placed T29 and T46 since his caddie's wife died. Three of four results at East Lake are T20 or worse.

21		Hideki Matsuyama	Hung onto a spot in the field thanks to a T20 at Cherry Hills where he ranked fourth in proximity. No top 10s since winning the Memorial.
Hung onto a spot in the field thanks to a T20 at Cherry Hills where he ranked fourth in proximity. No top 10s since winning the Memorial.

22		John Senden	East Lake slate is uninspiring, but he posted top 25s in each of the first three Playoffs events; capped all with a red number.
East Lake slate is uninspiring, but he posted top 25s in each of the first three Playoffs events; capped all with a red number.

23		Chris Kirk	First appearance in the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. The Deutsche Bank champ has only one other top 25 in his last nine starts.
First appearance in the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. The Deutsche Bank champ has only one other top 25 in his last nine starts.

24		Jason Day	After opening the Playoffs as the only golfer with top 10s in the first two events, he's now coming off a back injury at Cherry Hills.
After opening the Playoffs as the only golfer with top 10s in the first two events, he's now coming off a back injury at Cherry Hills.

25		Cameron Tringale	First appearance. Sandwiched a T2 at The Barclays and 68s on the weekend at the BMW with six consecutive rounds or par or worse.
First appearance. Sandwiched a T2 at The Barclays and 68s on the weekend at the BMW with six consecutive rounds or par or worse.

26		Russell Henley	East Lake debut. Occasionally dangerous. The University of Georgia Bulldog's T2 at TPC Boston is his only top 25 in his last 11 starts.
East Lake debut. Occasionally dangerous. The University of Georgia Bulldog's T2 at TPC Boston is his only top 25 in his last 11 starts.

27		Patrick Reed	Debut appearance at East Lake. Followed a third-round 82 at TPC Boston with an opening 77 at Cherry Hills. Recovered with a 67 on Sunday.
Debut appearance at East Lake. Followed a third-round 82 at TPC Boston with an opening 77 at Cherry Hills. Recovered with a 67 on Sunday.

28		Brendon Todd	The University of Georgia product has struggled in his last six starts, all on sites he's never played competitively. East Lake is another.
The University of Georgia product has struggled in his last six starts, all on sites he's never played competitively. East Lake is another.

29		Kevin Na	Stumbled at TPC Boston, where he missed the cut, and settled for T46 at Cherry Hills. T17 in last visit to East Lake in 2010.
Stumbled at TPC Boston, where he missed the cut, and settled for T46 at Cherry Hills. T17 in last visit to East Lake in 2010.

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