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Power Rankings: The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex

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Power Rankings

Power Rankings: The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex


    Written by Mike Glasscott @MikeGlasscott

    The final major championship of the 2022 PGA TOUR Champions schedule will unfold this week at the King's Course at Gleneagles for the first time.

    Scotland will host the event for the seventh time and first since 2018 at the Old Course St. Andrews, won by Miguel Angel Jimenez.

    James Braid designed the King's Course in 1919 and it served as host for the Scottish Open from the mid-1980s into the mid-1990s. Previously in 1921 it hosted the first match between professional golfers from Britain and America that eventually developed into the Ryder Cup.

    Stretching to 6,790 yards and playing Par-71, the full field will have to navigate two rounds before the top 70 and ties play the weekend.

    Welshman Stephen Dodd returns to defend his title. A prize pool of $2.5 million is on the line.


    POWER RANKINGS


    Just Missed: Stephen Ames, Woody Austin, Paul Goydos, Rod Pampling

    The heathland tract will emphasize approach play to heavily bunkered putting surfaces. Tee balls will have ample space to find the short grass but anything less than sharp iron play will find runoffs, heather and fescue. Trees frame the course outside the ropes and won't factor.

    Experience in these big events is the key for me this week. Knowing where to miss and how to take your medicine is just as important as keeping crooked numbers off the card. As mentioned above this isn't a course that has been used before so that will level the playing field to some degree. I see it the other way: it will completely help the elite players as there is no past edge to gain for most. I'm loading up on European pedigree this week sprinkled in with current heat.

    Just because the course isn't on the water doesn't mean Mother Nature will take the week off. The wind increases as the week continues but won't be as penal as it could be in Scotland. Clouds and sunshine open play but clouds and showers will dominate the final three days.

    Oh, and Bentley, according to Twitter, is the official car of the championship this week! Nice perk! Floor it!Firestone Country Club - South Course


    Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship

    RankPlayerFinish
    10Ernie ElsT3
    9Steve FleschT44
    8Mark HensbyT66
    7Paul BroadhurstT22
    6Retief GoosenT35
    5Steven AlkerT3
    4Miguel Angel JimenezT11
    3Jerry KellyWIN
    2Thongchai JaideeT17
    1Steve Stricker2nd

    Just Missed: Fred Couples - DNS, Rod Pampling - T11, Kevin Sutherland - T44, Colin Montgomerie - T25, Rob Labritz - T11


    If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out through Twitter or email me at mikeglasscott@gmail.com.