Jason Day stays on top of the power rankings this week. (USATSI)We have made it to Masters week!
Not much changes on this week's power rankings as many of the top players took last week off to prepare for the Masters. The Aussie dominance at the top continues and there is some shuffling in the middle as we get ready to crown the first major champion of 2016. Before we get to this week's rankings, a quick refresher course on how we make these rankings.
1. Scope is last two months of tournaments
2. We value different things but will take into account wins, top 10s and money
3. If you haven't played, you don't get ranked (i.e. Tiger Woods[1])
4. Recency matters
5. PGA Tour will be main focus but bigger European events will be factored in (i.e. Rickie Fowler[2]'s win in Abu Dhabi)
1. Jason Day[3] (Last week: 1): Day took the week off to prep for the Masters, but nothing changes here at the top. He's still the man to beat after back-to-back wins. Official World Golf Ranking: 1
2. Adam Scott[4] (2): Scott also used this week to prep for Augusta. The two Aussies are among the heavy favorites to claim another green jacket for the land down under. OWGR: 7
3. Bubba Watson[5] (3): It's an even year and Bubba's got the game working going into the Masters. Look out. OWGR: 4
4. Rory McIlroy[6] (4): We're going to get to people that actually played golf this week in a moment, but the top four all spent the week preparing and all four stay put where they were from last week. OWGR: 3
5. Phil Mickelson[7] (5): Phil did play this week and posted a solid T10 finish. He admitted to not really caring about winning this week but instead played shots, particularly off the tee, like he plans to at Augusta this week. Everything seems to point to another strong Masters finish from Lefty this week. OWGR: 18
6. Jordan Spieth[8] (7): Spieth still can't quite put a full four rounds together in an event. This week it was a Friday 73 that knocked him off the pace in Houston. Even still, he fought back for a T13 finish and insists he's very close to regaining his 2015 form. OWGR: 2
7. Rickie Fowler[9] (8): After failing to win a match at the Match Play, Fowler was happy to get back to stroke play golf, posting a steady T10 finish in Houston. OWGR: 5
8. Louis Oosthuizen[10] (6): Oosty hit a speed bump this week with an ugly 6 over performance in Houston as he missed the cut. Even so, his form outside of two loose days in Houston has been outstanding recently as he looks to lock up his first career green jacket. OWGR: 11
9. Dustin Johnson (13): Johnson is coming on strong the past few weeks with an appearance in the final 8 at the Match Play and then a solo-third this week in Houston. He's firing on all cylinders going into Augusta, as he continues his quest for a major championship. OWGR: 9
10. Henrik Stenson[11] (15): Stenson fell just short of a win once again, but he looked excellent in Houston with his solo second-place finish. OWGR: 7
11. Danny Willett[12] (9): Willett didn't play in Houston, but his wife did have their baby so he's in the clear for the Masters. Congrats to the Willett family. OWGR: 12
12. Charl Schwartzel[13] (10): Schwartzel continued his solid play this year with a T13 in Houston. The 2011 Masters champ will go for green jacket number two this week. OWGR: 20
13. Rafa Cabrera-Bello (16): Cabrera-Bello keeps on laying down really strong finishes. A solo fourth in Houston after a third-place finish in gives him some great momentum going into Augusta. OWGR: 33
14. Brooks Koepka (11): Koepka missed the cut in Houston but will still be a trendy sleeper pick for Augusta this week (if the 19th ranked golfer in the world can truly be a "sleeper"). OWGR: 19
15. Hideki Matsuyama[14] (12): Matsuyama was not in action in Houston as he looks to build on a fifth-place finish a year ago at the Masters. OWGR: 14
16. Brandt Snedeker[15] (14): Snedeker was another that took the week off to prepare for the Masters. OWGR: 17
17. Jimmy Walker[16] (17): A nice, solid T19 finish for Walker in Houston. He continues to do his thing and log top 25s. OWGR: 24
18. Patrick Reed (NR): Reed lit Houston up on Sunday with a 67 to move into T10. No one wants a green jacket more than Mr. Reed and that could produce some spectacular (or disastrous) results this week. OWGR: 10
References
- ^ Tiger Woods (www.cbssports.com)
- ^ Rickie Fowler (www.cbssports.com)
- ^ Jason Day (www.cbssports.com)
- ^ Adam Scott (www.cbssports.com)
- ^ Bubba Watson (www.cbssports.com)
- ^ Rory McIlroy (www.cbssports.com)
- ^ Phil Mickelson (www.cbssports.com)
- ^ Jordan Spieth (www.cbssports.com)
- ^ Rickie Fowler (www.cbssports.com)
- ^ Louis Oosthuizen (www.cbssports.com)
- ^ Henrik Stenson (www.cbssports.com)
- ^ Danny Willett (www.cbssports.com)
- ^ Charl Schwartzel (www.cbssports.com)
- ^ Hideki Matsuyama (www.cbssports.com)
- ^ Brandt Snedeker (www.cbssports.com)
- ^ Jimmy Walker (www.cbssports.com)
Source
