Top 10 power rankings in 2022 The American Express

Between playing with the abominably slow-paced Kevin Na for three rounds and nearly getting hit with an errant golf ball as he was set to tee off in round one, things out of Talor Gooch’s control didn’t seem to go too well at last week’s Sony Open.

While Gooch recorded four under-par rounds at Waialae, he never quite could get comfortable en route to a T-27th finish (67-66-66-69). He was T-16th in the field in strokes gained around the green (1.386 total), which will serve him well taking on some of the sloping green surrounds at PGA West and La Quinta.

You know you’re rolling along well when a top-30 seems somewhat disappointing.

Gooch picked up his first career PGA Tour victory in November at the RSM Classic by three shots. Recent Sentry of Tournament of Champions winner, Cameron Smith, was among those in the top five Gooch conquered.

The former Oklahoma State Cowboy also has two top-fives and two T-11ths across his last eight starts. Not too shabby for a player ranked outside the top 200 in the world at the beginning of 2020.

Gooch isn’t just riding good form. He’s 4-for-4 making the cut at The American Express and has really impressed after debuting with a T-67th in 2018. Gooch shot 67-67-66-64 to take solo fourth in 2019, his highest career finish at the time.

He followed with T-17th (69-71-64-68) in 2020 and T-21st (74-66-65-72) in 2021. Bookending disappointing rounds at the Stadium Course sunk his chances to contend last year, but a 65 there on Saturday showed he’s capable of getting it done at any of the three courses. Gooch ranks 10th on the PGA Tour in SG approach (.792) and 15th in SG around the green (.568).