Here are GolfChannel.com’s Power Rankings, a weekly barometer of the hottest players in the game:
| Rank | Player | Comment | | 1 |
Steve Stricker | Victory at the Northern Trust moved him to No. 2 in the World Golf Ranking and No. 1 in the Power Rankings. Consider this, he hasn’t finished outside the top 10 since September. | | | 2 |
Lee Westwood | The European Tour has had a familiar look the last few weeks and we don’t mean the desert venues. Westwood has been a fixture, finishing second in Dubai and third in Qatar after a great end to 2009. | | | 3 |
Phil Mickelson | Embers are still glowing from a blazing finish last year but he’s cooling off with a sluggish start. Still, over the final 36 holes at Riviera, Mickelson hit fairways, which is a reason to remain bullish on the new No. 3 man. | | | 4 |
Rory McIlroy | It’s difficult to argue that anyone is playing more consistent golf right now, with a flush of great finishes (T-6 or better in six of his last seven events) in Europe to prepare for his first year on the PGA Tour. | | | 5 |
Martin Kaymer | The German has been solid in Europe so far this season with a victory and a fourth-place tie in his last three starts. But if history holds true, Kaymer is due for an “off” week soon. | | | 6 |
Ernie Els | The decision to focus on a U.S. schedule has paid early dividends with the Big Easy finishing T-12 at Sony, T-5 at the Farmers Insurance and T-10 at Northern Trust. Is Els back? | | | 7 |
Paul Casey
| The Englishman was once ranked No. 3 in the world last year before a rib injury. Now, with that behind him he’s finished in the top-11 in four of his last five events. Could be a solid pick to win the Match Play. | | | 8 |
Robert Allenby | Dropped a little from last week with a 27th-place tie at Riviera (had a final-round 68) but he still had two international wins in December and has two top-10s on the PGA Tour this year. | | | 9 |
Charl Schwartzel
| The young South African was in the hunt in Dubai after 36-holes but played poorly on the weekend with 76-74 and tied for 38th. Still, consecutive wins in South Africa and a tie for 14th in Qatar keep him on the list. | | | 10 |
Dustin Johnson
| The defending Pebble Beach champion had a good tune up in L.A. with a third-place tie, if you dust off the third-round 74. His length will likely make him a contender again this week in the “Crosby” weather. |
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The ‘Grey Goose 19th Hole’ allows you a chance to offer up your own rankings by playing ‘The Feud.’ This week, rank your top 6 active players without a major championship!
