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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 12: Dustin Johnson of the United States lines up a putt on the ninth green during the third round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on May 12, 2018 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL – MAY 12: Dustin Johnson of the United States lines up a putt on the ninth green during the third round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on May 12, 2018 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Dustin Johnson doesn’t have a great resume at TPC Sawgrass, but I’m not about to leave off the world No. 1. Especially when his last start was a five-shot runaway at the WGC-Mexico (64-67-66-66).

“This golf course is tough,” Johnson was quoted by the Orlando Sentinel in 2017. “You’ve got to have all facets of your game working if you want to contend.”

I think his performance in Mexico illustrated as much. The narrow Club de Chapultepec harmed his driving accuracy stats but averaging over 330 off the tee allowed him to hit 80 percent greens in regulation. He knew what to do from there by gaining 2.1 shots per round on the field.

Johnson is second on Tour in overall strokes gained and is top 30 in every category. If this seems unsustainable, you’re wrong, because he pulled off this feat last season.

Johnson also beat some big names to win the European Tour’s Saudi International and posted a T9 at the Genesis Open.

With a couple weeks off leading in, I expect a rested and ready DJ to finally crack the top 10 at the Players Championship. A T12 in 2017 and T17 last year are encouraging signs.

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