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Andalucía Valderrama Masters: Top 10 power rankings

By Mike Randleman

SOTOGRANDE, SPAIN - OCTOBER 29: Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain tee's off at the 10th during the third round of the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama on October 29, 2011 in Sotogrande, Spain. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
SOTOGRANDE, SPAIN - OCTOBER 29: Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain tee's off at the 10th during the third round of the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama on October 29, 2011 in Sotogrande, Spain. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /
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Andalucía Masters
SOTOGRANDE, SPAIN – APRIL 17: Tournament winner Andrew Johnston of England (R) stands with host Sergio Garcia of Spain after victory during the final round on day four of the Open de Espana at Real Club Valderrama on April 17, 2016 in Sotogrande, Spain. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images) /

Andrew Johnston is back competing after a shoulder injury forced his withdrawal from the PGA Championship in August. “Beef” missed the cut in his debut last week at the Italian Open, but he can be forgiven for shaking off some rust. Besides, he shot rounds of 69 and 70 to miss the weekend by one so it’s not like he’s looking lost out there.

On the plus side, Johnston is back at a course he’s tamed in the past. Johnston opened with a two-under 69 at the Open de España in 2016 and hung on in the wind to outlast Sergio García and a host of others. The win, particularly the post round interview, helped launch his instant fame.

Before the injury, Johnston was having a modest season with nine made cuts in 14 starts in his first year playing primarily on the PGA Tour. The 28-year-old Englishman tied for 10th at the Puerto Rico Open and was beginning to find some decent form back across the pond with a T19 at the Scottish Open and a T27 at the Open Championship.

Like most on this list, Johnston’s is a strong ball striker. His stats are down this year, but he hit 72.88 percent of greens in regulation on the European Tour in 2016. Johnston is also pretty solid around the greens, which helped him overcome a rare poor irons week to win at Valderrama last year.

“I drove the ball well all week, chipped and putted well all week, I struggled a bit with my irons the first three days but I just kept going and kept digging in and then on the fourth I found something,” Johnston told the European Tour after the win.

After the Spaniards, Johnston will be one of the fan favorites to win this week.

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