2024 Butterfield Bermuda Championship: Top 10 power rankings at Port Royal GC

In the late 19th century, British Army Officers brought their golf clubs across the Atlantic Ocean to the remote islands of Bermuda.

The British military could not have chosen a better venue for golf; a popular American tourist destination, Bermuda has some of the most stunning views in the world.

It's also where the PGA Tour is headed this week -- the third consecutive stop outside of the U.S. is Bermuda's crown jewel, Port Royal Golf Course. The FedEx Cup Fall is officially in the final stretch. This week marks the fall's penultimate event, and the stakes continue to rise.

Only the top 125 players retain their Tour cards for the 2024-2025 season, so expect tensions to be at a high as players battle for their golf livelihoods.

"My story is not finished," said Joel Dahmen, who currently sits in 121st place, just four spots within the cutline. Hayden Springer is this week's bubble boy at 125th place, followed by Dylan Wu in 126th. Other notable players outside of the cutline include Wesley Bryan in 128th, Michael Thorbjornsen in 136th, and Gary Woodland in 137th. On the other side of the standings, players will look to climb into the AON Next 10. Previous fall winner Nico Echavarria is one spot off the top 60, in 61st place.

Camilo Villegas triumphed in emotional fashion in last year's edition: it was his first win since his 22-month-old daughter passed away from cancer in 2020.

Located on the western coast of the island, Port Royal has hosted the championship since 2019.

One of the world's most scenic island courses will once again be the host of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. Set against the shimmering Bermudan turquoise water and jagged cliffs, there are few courses on tour more picturesque and unique than Port Royal.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1970, the venue is known for its natural beauty and one-of-a-kind challenge. At 6,828 yards and as a par 71, the course is among the shortest on Tour. But don't be fooled -- the undulating fairways and unconventional pin locations will demand players to think their way around the course, strategically plotting each shot.

Its main defense comes with the wind: the coastal winds can swirl at times, making for unpredictable approach shots, especially on the elevated par threes. The weekend forecast is currently calling for 20+ mph winds. It will be fascinating to see how players manage the wind down the stretch. Harbour Town is a logical course comparison due to its exposure to coastal winds and quirky setup.

The three most significant criteria this week will be approach shots (especially within 150 yards), driving accuracy, and strokes gained with the putter on Bermuda grass greens. Past winners include shorter hitters like Camilo Villegas and Brendon Todd, so distance is not a prerequisite for success at Port Royal. Players will have ample opportunities to score with their wedges, so they must be dialed in from short range.

It is always refreshing to see the PGA Tour host an event outside of American soil. Let's see who has the edge this week in Bermuda.

2024 Butterfield Bermuda Championship Power Rankings

10) Kevin Yu

Yu captured his first career victory at the Sanderson Farms Championship earlier this fall, describing it as "a dream come true for me." A true ball striker, Yu is still finding his footing on the greens in his young career. He can be erratic, but there are few proven winners in this field. The Arizona State product can now say he is one of them.

9) Justin Lower

You can't help but root for Lower in these next two events. A zero-time Tour winner and zero-time Korn Ferry Tour winner, he was brought to tears in his Saturday night press conference at the WWT Championship. Lower has been grinding for years, and it nearly paid off with a victory as he finished T2. Expect the 35-year-old to be in attack mode this week.

8) Daniel Berger

"My everyday life sucked," said Berger, after a back injury sidelined him for 19 months. He is now two steps away from making his comeback, and the former Ryder Cupper knows what's at stake. At 124th place, it is safe to say that there is absolutely no margin for error for Berger. He has delivered time and time again throughout his career, and he will look for his trusty irons to do so once again this week.

7) Matti Schmid

Schmid's heater came to a halt with a missed cut in Cabo, but that doesn't mean we can ignore his two top-five finishes in the prior events. He continues to be lethal off the tee, which is crucial at a venue where fairways come at a premium. Schmid has played in five events this fall -- perhaps the extra time off is just what he needed as he returns to a place where he notched his highest finish to date -- a T3 in 2023's edition.

6) Ben Griffin

It's rinse and repeat for Griffin at these shorter venues: he has found success at similar courses like TPC Deere Run and Sedgefield Country Club. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that Griffin nearly claimed his first Tour title at Port Royal in 2022. He held a two-stroke lead on the back nine before collapsing down the stretch. The UNC product leads the field in strokes gained in windy conditions over the past 30 rounds. There is scar tissue there -- no doubt about that, but few are better equipped to handle Bermuda's challenging conditions than Griffin.

5) Harris English

The fall swing often features players trying to make a name for themselves on Tour. The four-time winner is not of that mold, but he continues to show why he is the cream of this fall's crop. English was a popular pick to win in Cabo, and he posted a steady T14, coming off consecutive finishes of T6-T9. His spot in the AON Next 10 is all but secured, so English is playing with house money at this point in the season.

4) Nico Echavarria

Doubt the Colombian at your own risk; he nearly went back-to-back in last week's WWT Championship, as he co-led after 36 holes. The Butterfield Bermuda Championship offers another opportunity for Echavarria to establish himself as a household name on Tour, and he is now just one spot off the AON Next 10. Safe to say he is hungry for more glory.

3) Mackenzie Hughes

Hughes is teeing it up for the third time in this fall circuit and is undoubtedly one of the most established players in this field. The drive to get back to the Presidents Cup will motivate Hughes for the remainder of his career, but for now, he looks to build off of T4-T8 finishes in his last two starts.

2) Lucas Glover

Glover claimed the top spot in last week's rankings, but he is sure to be a bit disappointed with a T24 in Mexico. A set of unwavering irons and a trusty flat stick will continue to be the reason why he is successful -- even as age 50 approaches. In Bermuda, his experience should aid him in navigating the wind. The wind may make conditions chaotic, but chaos has never deterred the vet.

1) Seamus Power

The Irishman has proven to be fond of playing golf on international waters -- he was victorious here in 2022 and finished T12 in 2021. He comes into the Butterfield Bermuda Championship riding a wave of momentum, with four finishes inside the top 15 in his last six events. Power nursed a bizarre hip injury for most of 2023, but he appears to have found his mojo again -- the same formula that had him ranked as high as 28th in the OWGR last winter. Notre Dame football plays on Saturday, and Power and fellow Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy (DP World Tour) will look to close the deal on Sunday. Could it be the luck of the Irish this weekend?