CareerBuilder Challenge Power Rankings

Bill Haas is looking for back-to-backs at the CareerBuilder Challenge but Patrick Reed intends to spoil that plan.

2016 is still young, so it’s only fitting that change is in the air. With a new title sponsor and a pair of new courses, the CareerBuilder Challenge will be a fascinating test for the PGA Tour’s rank-and-file.

Formerly the Bob Hope Classic (and in more recent years, the Humana Challenge), the tournament will still maintain much of its old charm. It remains in California’s Coachella Valley (the players are certainly glad about that), and the three-course-rotation format is also still in place. However, they won’t be the same three courses–while La Quinta Country Club remains, PGA West’s Palmer Private and Nicklaus Private courses have been replaced in favor of less familiar tracks.

The TPC Stadium Course, designed by renowned course architect Pete Dye, is well-known in its own right and will serve as the official tournament host. In the past, it’s hosted the Skins Game, the PGA Club Professional National Championship and the Q-School finals. The other new track, the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course, has seen fewer events but is well-regarded as a destination course. Both are located at PGA West.

Read more about the TPC Stadium track in Kathlene Bissell’s course review

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The relatively unfamiliar courses add an interesting wrinkle to this week’s power rankings. While I usually compile them based on a fairly even combination of course history and current form, the latter will take precedence this week. However, it’s not like I can totally disregard past results–after all, La Quinta Country Club is still in the rotation. In the end, it’s, as it always is, a balancing act.

Without further ado, let’s go ten deep. Here are this week’s best bets for success at the CareerBuilder Challenge.

Next: Young Guns: 10 Golfers Under 25

The CareerBuilder Challenge gets under way Thursday, January 21 with Golf Channel coverage of all four rounds. Follow ProGolfNow on Twitter and like our Facebook page to get up-to-date golf news and commentary.