Week 6 Power Rankings: Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am

text size

Editor's note: Vartan Kupelian is the Champions Tour Insider and a PGATOUR.COM Contributor. Each week, Kupelian will size up the field and provide his top five players going into the tournament, based on factors such as the player's strengths, the course setup, recent performances, etc.

Nick Price won for the first time on the Champions Tour in this event last year, ending an 0-for-38 streak, at the 2009 Outback Steahouse Pro-Am at TPC Tampa Bay.

The breakthrough came when Price made seven birdies in an up-and-down round to shoot even par for a 9-under 204. That was good for a two-stroke victory over Larry Nelson.

In a round like few, if any, he's ever played, Price made three double bogeys, but steadied the ship with three successive birdies on the back. It was a grinding performance that paid off with the long-anticipated victory.

Price will defend his title against two of the hottest players in golf -- Fred Couples and Tom Watson, both coming off impressive performances at the Masters.

This week's Champions Tour Power Rankings:

Power Rankings: Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am

Rank Player   Comment Fred COUPLES Don't tug on Superman's cape. Couples has three straight victories and played superbly again at the Masters. He's doing everything right at the moment. The only question is: How much of a letdown might there be after his huge performance at Augusta National? Tom WATSON Ditto. Watson, a two-time winner at the Outback Steakhouse (2007-2008) was a shot off the pace after one round at the Masters. On the long, difficult Augusta National course, he didn't take a step back against the kids. He's sure to be in contention. Tom LEHMAN Three starts, three top-five finishes. A victory can't be far off and if Couples and Watson have a bit of a letdown, Lehman jumps to the head of the class. He's played a dozen rounds on the Champions Tour: His highest score is 69. He's first in GIR. Bernhard LANGER The two-time Masters champion (1985, 1993) got off to a solid start this year at Augusta but missed the cut. Putting remains stellar, and his ball-striking is never far off. He's returning to Florida where he always plays well and contends. Loren ROBERTS Three top-5s in six starts this year. He's No. 8 in putting average (1.685) behind Watson's spectacular 1.597 average. Roberts is looking for a spark to start the kind of run that sent him to the Charles Schwab Cup in '09.