Power rankings: The Greenbrier Classic
The PGA Tour rolls into West Virginia for the sixth edition of The Greenbrier Classic, played on the resort’s Old White TPC course. The C.B. Macdonald-designed course lends itself to low scores, making distance and hot putting especially big factors this week. However, a solid ballstriker who takes dead aim has a great chance.
There are a few horses for this course, while others in our top five this week are simply playing great golf. Here’s our handpicked handful:
1. Webb Simpson — Simpson is an absolute must this week. He’s got three top-10 finishes in five career Greenbrier appearances. This course suits his eye. Having a very solid season overall.
2. Bill Haas — Haas is another rare horse-for-course player at Greenbrier. He has a pair of top 10s in four starts, and he’s never missed a payday in this event.
3. Bubba Watson — Last week’s winner is making his third Greenbrier start, and he’s finished top 30 in both starts. It’s a sort-of home game for him, but don’t think of that as an edge.
4. Kevin Kisner — At some point, Kevin Kisner is going to win on the PGA Tour. His profile fits the type of guy that has won here in the past: not a superstar (yet), but a guy with a very solid resume. He has a bad Greenbrier record, but that was a different Kevin Kisner.
5. Paul Casey — Casey has never played at Greenbrier, so this pick is almost wholly based on his form. He’s one of two guys — Kevin Kisner is the other — to have lost in multiple sudden-death playoffs this year.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
