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PGA Tour Power Rankings: 2014 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open

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By @Brandon__Raper

Five to Watch: 2014 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open

2014 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open Power Rankings
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An oasis in the middle of the desert, Las Vegas is known for some of the world's finest gambling, as well as some world-class golf courses. The two will combine in a unique way again this week at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

It won't be roulette or blackjack, but birdies and eagles that 144 players will be hunting in a tournament that produces some low scores and unpredictable finishes. Here are my top five to watch this week.

5. Webb Simpson

Webb Simpson PGA Tour
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5. Webb Simpson

Webb Simpson PGA Tour

The 2013 champion from TPC Summerlin is back this week. After a roller coaster of a season last year that saw the Wake Forest grad miss nearly as many cuts (6) as he made top-ten finishes (9), as well as a controversial Ryder Cup pick, Simpson needs to get off to a hot start. He does have two top-tens in his last five starts, so we’ll be gambling on Simpson in Vegas.

4. Ryo Ishikawa

Ryo Ishikawa golf PGA Tour
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4. Ryo Ishikawa

Ryo Ishikawa golf PGA Tour

Ishikawa has posted just three top-25 finishes on the PGA Tour in the last six months, but he had his best career finish at this tournament last year, finishing second to Webb Simpson at -18. He looked strong in Napa last week on his way to a tie for 19th, and at just 23 years old he’s still coming into his own against the strongest competition in the world.

3. Hideki Matsuyama

Hideki Matsuyama PGA Tour
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3. Hideki Matsuyama

Hideki Matsuyama PGA Tour

Last week’s third-place finisher at the Frys.com Open hit 77.78% of greens in regulation. If he keeps up that pace, along with his birdie conversion rate from 2014 (32.14%, good for 14th on Tour), he should do well in a tournament that seems to be a shootout every year. He's struggled to find consistency since joining the Tour, but this is a course that should suit his eye.

2. Ryan Moore

Ryan Moore golf PGA Tour
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2. Ryan Moore

Ryan Moore golf PGA Tour

It’s homecoming week again for Moore, a 2005 UNLV grad. A winner at TPC Summerlin in 2012, Moore followed it with a T9 in 2013. Considering the pace the birdies fly at here, that’s really a remarkable level of consistency. Although Moore faltered a bit down the stretch in last season’s FedEx Cup Playoffs, his accuracy (23rd in both GIR and proximity to the hole in 13-14) will allow him plenty of scoring chances this week.

1. Billy Horschel

Billy Horschel golf PGA Tour
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1. Billy Horschel

Billy Horschel golf PGA Tour

Billy Horschel has brought his game to a whole new level, winning his last two tournaments of the 2013-14 season to take home the FedEx Cup. Horschel ranked fourth in greens in regulation last season, which will allow him plenty of birdie opportunities. Just a month removed from his triumph at East Lake and perfect weather in the forecast, the former Florida Gator could get the 2014-15 season going in a big way with a win in Las Vegas.

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