Power Rankings: Chubb Classic
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2021 Charles Schwab Cup Championship Recap
PGATOUR Champions is back in action this week after opening the season in Hawaii in January.
Naples has hosted a PGATOUR Champions event annually since 1988 but this is only the second year at Tiburon and the Black Course.
Steve Stricker won last year's event but will not be able to defend his title as he is still recovering after a major illness last fall post Ryder Cup.
Get well, Capn'!
| Yards (per official scorecard): | 6,909 |
| Par: | 72 (36-36) |
| Greens: | TifEagle Ultra Dwarf Bermuda; 5,500 square feet on average. |
| Stimpmeter: | 12.5'. |
| Rough: | Celebration Bermuda at 1.75". |
| Bunkers/Water Hazards | 36 (21 additional waste areas)/14 (water in play on six holes). |
| Architects: | Greg Norman (2001). |
| Purse: | $1.6 million; $240,000 winner. |
| Defending Champion: | Steve Stricker (-16; 272). |
| Tournament Record: | 268; Steve Stricker (2021). |
| Course Record: | 63; Fred Couples (Round 1, 2021). |
POWER RANKINGS
| RANK | PLAYER | COMMENT | ||
Greg Norman's Tiburon Black Course debuted last year so those who played the 2021 event should be ahead of schedule.
Tight driving holes are both tree lined and surround with bunkering and waste areas so Ball-Striking is on the menu. Once on the greens, grainy Bermuda will have the final say on which putts will and will not drop. Errant approaches will find tight chipping areas to navigate up and down recoveries. The top 12 players on debut were 10-under or better and there was only ONE round of 72 posted by the top 15 players.
Steve Stricker provided some clues in his win last year as he led the field in GIR and Ball-Striking, finding almost 93 percent of the fairways and 47 of 54 greens. When he didn't find the fairway or GIR he got up and down as he only made one bogey on the week, best of the bunch.
Last year's event followed Masters week so gusty spring weather was prevalent. Temperatures this time around hover around 80 with breezes in the 10-15 MPH range but gusts as of Tuesday don't appear in the cards.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out through Twitter or email me mikeglasscott@gmail.com.