PGA Championship 2011 Field: Power Ranking Top 15 Players at Highlands Course

The PGA Championship returns to the Highlands Course at Atlanta Athletic Club.  Host of the 2001 PGA, renovations make power more of a premium this time. Punishing water hazards and bunkers will penalize inaccurate shots.  

Rory McIlroy's ball striking makes him the favorite.  Defending champion Martin Kaymer has struggled, but expect him along with Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson to be in the mix.  

Jason Day and Adam Scott both have favorable skill sets for the course.  Here are the top 15 golfers in the PGA Championship power rankings.

15: Tiger Woods

The past has to count for something right? Tiger Woods did not show any signs of being in major championship form at Firestone. Still, he remains the greatest player of this generation.  

Perhaps he can get a bounce or two and mix in some good play. He will be highly motivated in 2011's last major but can't afford to spray shots afoul on this course.

14: Phil Mickelson

Mickelson also needs to find a way to keep the ball in play. He lost a heart breaker at this course 10 years ago to David Toms.

 If he stays alive off the tee, his length with the irons could really help his chances. However, staying in play is a very big "if" for Phil right now.

13: Luke Donald

The Englishmen has spent over two months as the World No. 1. Still, he has disappointed at both the US Open and British Open, missing the cut at the later.  

His play overall has been very solid, but the length of this course may pose a problem. Donald has won at tournaments with the best in the world in the field.

He is ranked first for a reason, so don't expect another poor major showing.

12: KJ Choi

Choi is one of those players that seems due to win a major.

He has a very steady game overall and a solid mental makeup. He was victorious at the challenging Players Championship in May.  

This is a course that penalizes mistakes and Choi knows how to avoid them. Smart, steady play and a rock solid demeanor will be beneficial this week.

11: Lee Westwood

The No. 2 player in the world could be poised for a big week. While he did not make the cut at the British Open, he had strong showings at the US Open and BMW PGA.  

Westwood is likely the best player without a major, and he has been knocking on the door the past few seasons. This could be the week the door finally opens for him.

10: Bubba Watson

Defeated in a playoff last year, Watson returns to another course that can showcase his skills.  

The extremely long par threes will not pose the same challenge for him that they do to others. The key for Watson is to maintain his composure and play smart.  

Losing focus or attempting miracle shots will be devastating to his hopes.

9: Gary Woodland

Woodland has exploded onto the scene this year with his tremendous length. His distance with irons is simply absurd.  

With numerous long holes, Woodland, like Watson will have the advantage of using higher lofted clubs. He has made incredible strides in his game this year and could elevate himself to the next level this week. 

8: Martin Kaymer

The defending PGA Champion surged to No. 1 early in the season. He has struggled since trying to tweak his game for Augusta National.  

Kaymer in form is a long straight hitter who stays out of trouble. That is the exact prototype you want for this course.  Perhaps the label of defending champion will boost his confidence and get his game back to where it was.

7: Nick Watney

Watney is another long and straight hitter. He has won this year at the TPC Blue Monster, so he should be able to produce at this similar venue.  

He has another victory this year at the AT&T National and is ranked ninth in the world. Watney's missed cut at the US Open was surprising to see.  

Given his talent and two victories this season, expect him to contend.

6: Sergio Garcia

Garcia has quietly put the pieces back together after his career tailspin last season.  He looks happy to be playing golf again.  

Many remember him nearly winning this event as a 19-year-old 12 years ago, narrowly losing to Tiger Woods.  

While he has failed to live up to the promise displayed then, Garcia could capture his first major this week. His iron game is well suited for success here.

5: Rickie Fowler

The young man from Oklahoma State is coming off a solid British Open as well as a good performance at Firestone CC.  

He appears to be continually progressing with his game. He is another long hitter who is well suited for the course. His solid play at the British Open showed an ability to overcome adversity and adapt his game.

Fowler has all the tools to be a major champion. It is only a matter of time.

4: Adam Scott

The Australian is coming off a dominating victory at the WGC Bridgestone. One potential concern is the possible distraction created by Steve Williams split with Tiger Woods and fallout that has ensued.  

Williams has clearly been beneficial to Scott so far. After showing a ton of promise early in his career, Scott finally seems to be getting back to that level.  

He possesses a great ball striking game. His use of the long putter raises eyebrows, but it has worked out for him. Only a great rally by Charl Schwartzel prevented him from winning the Masters this year.  

3: Dustin Johnson

One of the longest players on tour. Dustin Johnson has already been labeled a choker by some.

Indeed he has had three horrible incidents when in contention for a major on Sunday. However, the fact that he is constantly in good position speaks of his talent.  

The British Open runner up has the talent to contend and I expect him too. The question will be how does he handle the pressure on the final holes.

2: Jason Day

The 23-year-old Australian finished runner-up in The Masters and the US Open.  He has eight top-10 finishes this year in 16 starts on the PGA Tour.  

Day has risen to the top 10 of the world rankings and really looks to be coming into his own.  

A win at this stage of his career would really create buzz in the golf world. Day has the tools to win at the Highlands Course, and he looks like a multiple major champion.

1: Rory McIlroy

After a mini slump following the US Open victory, McIlroy finished sixth at Firestone.  

His ball striking was superb. Unfortunately, his putting was not, and it kept him from really pushing for the tournament.  

McIlroy is clearly the best ball striker in the world right now. He gets more realistic scoring chances then anyone because of this. McIlroy will win if he manages to make enough putts.  

The British Open is not suited for his game, but the PGA Championship is. If the blade gets hot, look for Rory to capture his second major of the year.