Power Rankings: St. Jude Classic

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In 2009, Muirfield Village was a more suitable tune-up for the U.S. Open at a stretched-out Bethpage State Park than TPC Southwind in the week immediately preceding the major. That's not the case this year. Pebble Beach will play as a 7,040-yard par 71 next week. Contenders will require a steady dose of fairways and greens, which is the formula in Memphis.

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Two years ago, at +2.534 strokes to par, the host course for the St. Jude Classic played as the most difficult non-major all year. It eased considerably in 2009 (+0.291), but the objective remains the same. Ball-strikers, and then scramblers, are rewarded this week, although you won't find defending champion, Brian Gay, below. I'll explain why in the "Fantasy Insider" on Tuesday.

Another week, another risk of inclement weather. Muggy conditions will settle in for the duration, as heat indexes will climb into triple digits. Winds are expected to be light, which will help with scoring, but will do very little in cooling those in attendance.

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Power Rankings: St. Jude Classic

Rank Player   Comment Ben CRANE On a tear right now. Worst finish in last three starts is a T7 at the Byron Nelson. Currently first in the all-around ranking, 13th in fairways hit, 12th in greens and 21st in scrambling. Placed T14 at last year's St. Jude. Zach JOHNSON The Colonial champ has entered the St. Jude just once, but finished T5 in 2006 (T7 in greens hit; just five holes over par that week). Coming off disappointing but understandable T47 at the Memorial. Ranks 34th in ball-striking. Robert ALLENBY Five top 20s in seven career starts here, including a T4 last year and T2 in 2008. Eighth on the all-time money list at the event. Missed the cut at the Memorial, but had mixed success there anyway. Sits 12th in ball-striking. Heath SLOCUM Has deposited three six-figure paychecks in his last five starts. Four top 25s in seven starts in Memphis, including a T10 a year ago. Currently fourth in fairways hit, seventh in greens and 18th in ball-striking. Paul GOYDOS Loves the heat and has a strong track record here, with four top 15s in 14 starts. En route to a T4 here last year, finished T3 in fairways, T1 in greens and 13th in putting. Mild sleeper after fading to a T59 at Colonial with a Sunday 74. David TOMS There's simply no denying his domination in Memphis. The two-time champ has earned over $3.5-million here, best all-time. Shared runner-up last year when he finished T3 in fairways and T1 in greens. Coming off a season-best T13 at Colonial. Tim PETROVIC Arguably the TOUR's streakiest player, he's coming off recent, solid performances at the Memorial (T5) and Texas Open (T6). Full-season numbers aren't great but his ball-striking is coming around fast. Runner-up in Memphis way back in 2002. Lee WESTWOOD First-timer in Memphis. After his T4 at THE PLAYERS, he posted a T10 at the BMW PGA Championship. The Brit's tee-to-green game is too solid to ignore, particularly in this U.S. Open primer. Fredrik JACOBSON Once upon a time, he was an annual threat here, going T3-T5-T6 from 2003-05. The Swede sits seventh in ball-striking and the runner-up at the Texas Open is one of the nearest objects in his rearview mirror. Camilo VILLEGAS He's 4-for-4 at the St. Jude, with a pair of top 20s. Rebounded from opening 77 at the Memorial to make the cut and finish T28. Currently 44th in ball-striking. Brother Manuel also in the field; first time both in the same event.