Power rankings: Hyundai Tournament of Champions
The PGA Tour returns this week, picking up the 2016 portion of its wraparound schedule at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
Patrick Reed is defending champion at the PGA Tour’s winners-only event, reserved for players who have hoisted a trophy since and including the last TOC in January 2015. The 32-player field is the best in a decade at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course — the only par-73 on the PGA Tour — and includes the world No. 1 Jordan Spieth, No. 2 Jason Day and No. 4 Bubba Watson.
Here are our top five players for this week:
1. Jordan Spieth — The best player on the planet had some nice showings after his PGA Tour year ended, finishing joint runner-up in the Australian Open title defense — in heavy winds, mind you — and a T-4 at the Hero World Challenge. Curious what his offseason tweaks did to his game.
2. Patrick Reed — The defending champion had a strong, active finish to his year by playing out the European Tour’s Final Series. He has been in the top 10 in his last six worldwide starts.
3. Jason Day — Day shot 62 in the final round here last year, stirring thoughts of what would be the most insane 59 in PGA Tour history (since it’s a par-73 course). Took the fall off to become a dad again. Word is that his fitness has improved in the offseason. Yikes.
4. Bubba Watson — Watson won in his last start at the Hero World Challenge, and he has back-to-back top-10 finishes in this event. He loves shotmaking on this course.
5. Rickie Fowler — Fowler gets to Kapalua for the first time since his breakthrough win in 2012. Coming off a three-win year in 2015, Fowler was T-3 in his last start at the Hero World Challenge.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
LISTEN TO OUR WEEKLY GOLF PODCAST! This week: Setting the bar after Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods
