Power Rankings: Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic

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Oct. 17, 2011
By Rob Bolton, PGATOUR.COM Fantasy Columnist

For the first time in the five-year history of the Fall Series, the golfers ranked first and second in the money list will tee it up at the season-ending Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic.

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Webb Simpson leads Luke Donald by $363,029 entering the 41st annual stop at Walt Disney World. If Donald wins this week, to claim the money title as well he'll need Simpson to finish with a two-way share of second place or worse. If Donald doesn't win, Simpson can shut out the Englishman with a three-way tie for seventh or solo eighth. Both are featured below.

Also in the field is Stephen Ames, who couldn't defend his 2009 crown last year due to a back injury. He also won the tournament in 2007 and ranks second in all-time earnings here. While he entered both of those weeks without a top 10 in his previous six starts, and hasn't had one in his last eight this season, he shouldn't be dismissed as a potential contender as he obviously knows how to get the job done at Disney's Magnolia and Palm Courses.

Magnolia is the host while the entire field will get one crack at Palm before the cut. Both are par 72s but play much lower than that. Magnolia has consistently ranked among the easiest half of all tracks on the PGA TOUR. Its scoring average a year ago was 70.956. Meanwhile, Palm has been the easiest par 72 east of California in each of the last six years. Its average scoring of 69.758 in 2010 was its second highest in that stretch.

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Defending champion Robert Garrigus led the field in driving distance, which is no surprise, but he also finished first in total distance of putts made. Of the top eight on the final leaderboard last year, six ranked inside the top 15 in greens in regulation and seven cracked the top 15 in putts per round. That potent combination serves as this week's formula.

Guys need to be aggressive until the final stroke. Greens that are a little above-average in size and predominantly flat will allow for pummeling of pins. Mother Nature is also doing her part by softening the area early in the week before relenting with primarily sunny and dry conditions throughout the tournament. High temperatures will camp out in the 70s and winds are not expected to influence scoring.

Power Rankings: Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic

Rank	Player		Comment
		Justin ROSE	Rested since THE TOUR Championship. One month removed from winning the BMW. Ranks 10th on TOUR in greens hit and the all-around. Superb record at Disney with one third and two fourths. Owns the course record at Palm (60 in 2006).
		Luke DONALD	First appearance since 2003. Chased a share of third at THE TOUR Championship with a T9 at the Dunhill Links and T11 in Madrid (his worst finish in his last five events). Ranks 51st on the PGA TOUR in greens and second in Strokes Gained-Putting.
		Spencer LEVIN	Finished T32 at the McGladrey Classic but tied for seventh in greens hit. That result followed a pair of top 10s to start the Fall Series. Placed T3 here last year, ranking T8 in greens in regulation and fifth in putting. Currently 34th on TOUR in GIR.
		Webb SIMPSON	Would sit higher here if he didn't rank 67th in putts inside five feet at Seaside. He missed 6.45 percent of his attempts, including the dagger on the second playoff hole. However, we cannot ignore his incredible consistency and overall efficiency.
		Gary WOODLAND	The first-timer at Disney enters with a string of five consecutive top 25s dating back to the PGA Championship. He has 14 top 25s in 24 starts this year. Sits 11th on TOUR in greens in regulation and 16th in birdie average.
		Trevor IMMELMAN	His solo fifth at the McGladrey Classic was his first top 10 on the PGA TOUR since THE TOUR Championship in 2008. Led the field in putting at Seaside. Ranks 40th on TOUR in greens in regulation and 42nd in Strokes Gained-Putting.
		Tommy GAINEY	Finally returns to the site of his career-best finish on the PGA TOUR, a solo second in his rookie year of 2008 when he led the field in putting and birdies. Seven top 10s this year, including four thirds. Ranks 26th in birdie average.
		Kevin STREELMAN	Coming off a share of sixth place at the McGladrey Classic, matching his best result of the year. It featured a pair of bogey-free 66s (first and third rounds). Currently 27th on TOUR in Strokes Gained-Putting. Placed T6 here in 2008.
		John SENDEN	Hasn't competed since THE TOUR Championship, which followed a solo second at the BMW. Has 14 top 25s in 25 starts this year. En route to a T12 here a year ago, he co-led the field in greens hit. Currently fourth on TOUR in GIR.
		Charles HOWELL III	He's made the cut in each of his last nine starts here, including last year's T9. Played his first 44 holes last year in bogey-free 9-under. Ranks 23rd on TOUR in greens hit and 28th in Strokes Gained-Putting. Seven top 10s this season.