Power Rankings: HP Byron Nelson Championship

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May. 18, 2010
By Rob Bolton, PGATOUR.COM Fantasy Columnist

This is one of those weeks with a tournament inside a tournament, as the HP Byron Nelson Championship is a U.S. Open qualifier of sorts.

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After it's in the books, the top 10 in 2010 earnings will earn a berth into the second major of the year, as will the top 50 from the Official World Golf Ranking. (Once the BMW PGA Championship is concluded in England, the top five from the European Tour's Race to Dubai ranking will also be awarded tee times at Pebble Beach next month.) For those that fail in their bids for the coveted exemptions, it's off to open qualifying in the coming weeks. (The top 50 in the OWGR on Monday will also gain entry into the British Open.)

As it always is with qualifiers at any level, the goal this week is to go low. TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas obliges. Last year, eight of the top 11 on the leaderboard finished inside the top 10 in greens in regulation for the week. However, do not mistake this for a putting contest. This is a numbers game. It's all about the birdie opportunities. And while I'm leaning heavily on GIR, because it's a par 70 track, I'm taking a long look at the birdies or better on par 4s as well.

For the moment, the only projected threat of inclement weather is for the opening round. The remainder of the tournament is expected to be dry and warm, with high temps eclipsing 90 degrees, but you can never discount pop-up boomers in afternoon heating. Winds will add to the challenge, steadily blowing from 10-20 mph throughout.

Power Rankings: HP Byron Nelson Championship

Rank	Player		Comment
		Hunter MAHAN	The Dallas-area resident enters with three top-20s in a row. Leads the PGA TOUR in ball-striking (sixth in greens hit). Best finish in six starts here is a T42 in 2008, but he's still a pup, having turned 28 on Monday.
		Ben CRANE	He's done very little here since a runner-up finish in 2002, but is trending in too many areas to ignore. Currently second in birdies or better on par-4s, ninth in fairways hit and 10th in GIR. Placed T4 at THE PLAYERS.
		Heath SLOCUM	Rather surprising 1-for-4 record here (T18, 2005), but, like Crane, also fits the profile this week. Slocum leads in driving accuracy and sits 12th in greens in regulation. Finished T4 at THE PLAYERS, where he was T14 in fairways and greens hit.
		Charlie WI	Since Cottonwood was removed from the rotation, he's finished T7 (2008) and T23 (2009). Ranked T5 in GIR and T10 in birdies at least year's edition. Has two top 25s in his last three starts this season, including a T17 at the Valero Texas Open.
		Rickie FOWLER	The rookie ranks 10th on TOUR in ball-striking this year. He has four top-10s in 13 starts, including two in his last three (T8 at Verizon Heritage and sixth at Quail Hollow). First-timer at the HP Byron Nelson.
		Charley HOFFMAN	Enters on the heels of consecutive top-25s, including a season-best T13 in San Antonio, where he was first in birdies and fifth in putting. Has three top 25s in four starts at TPC Four Seasons.
		Carl PETTERSSON	Has made seven consecutive cuts, notable considering his forgettable 2009 season. Finished T22 at TPC San Antonio. Ranks fifth in birdies or better on par-4s and 16th in putting, which has been his savior. Placed T4 at the '08 HP Byron Nelson.
		Spencer LEVIN	Buoyed by a strong iron game at TPC San Antonio (T4 in greens in regulation), he cashed for a season-best T9, his fifth top 25 of the year. Ranks fifth in greens hit this year. Underrated in the wind as well.
		Ryan PALMER	Overlooking his putrid record here (1-for-6: T73 in 2006) because of two factors: 1. He's coming of a course record-tying, bogey-free 64 at the AT&T Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio, where he finished T9; 2. He's fourth in birdies or better on par-4s.
		J.B. HOLMES	Enters the week 52nd in the Official World Golf Ranking, and is not yet eligible for the U.S. and British Opens. Has finished T13 in his last two starts and sits ninth in birdies or better on par 4s. Finished T2 in GIR at the Valero Texas Open.