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PLAYERS Championship: Power ranking the top 10 at TPC Sawgrass

By Mike Randleman

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL - MAY 13: Crowds surround the first tee during the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on May 13, 2018 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL - MAY 13: Crowds surround the first tee during the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on May 13, 2018 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL – MAY 10: Brooks Koepka of the United States plays his shot from the 18th tee during the first round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on May 10, 2018 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL – MAY 10: Brooks Koepka of the United States plays his shot from the 18th tee during the first round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on May 10, 2018 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

Brooks Koepka’s trend line points steadily upward throughout his four starts at the Players Championship. He debuted in 2015 with a missed cut but has since finished T35-T16-T11.

In just his second start after 17 weeks off with a wrist injury, Koepka fired a Sunday 63 to match the course record.

It makes sense for a bomb and gouge player like BK to need some reps around this Pete Dye design to get his footing. The 28-year-old is primed for another good showing as he’s 22nd on Tour in strokes gained approach and is solid, though not elite statistically, from most yardage ranges.

Koepka snapped a streak of eight made cuts in a row when he missed by two last week at Bay Hill. It might be a blessing in disguise as the Players will be his fourth event in as many weeks. He looked poised for a playoff at the Honda Classic before Keith Mitchell sunk a clutch birdie putt on the last to resign Koepka for a T2.

Koepka owns six top-25s in the 2018-19 season including a win at the CJ Cup.

He’s 22nd on Tour in par-5 scoring and certainly has the length to take on Sawgrass’ reachable par-4s and par-5s.

If Koepka’s in the hunt headed to the 17th on Sunday, I like his mental fortitude to propel him past the field.

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