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PGA Tour Power Rankings: Rory claims top spot with late-season surge

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After a lengthy hiatus from ranking the top 10 players in the world, it's time to revisit the list for the final time in 2019. The PGA Tour is in the midst of a rare week off and only two tournaments remain until the new year, which will likely be skipped by the game's top players.

A lot has changed since the last rankings were released after the U.S. Open. The 2018-19 season came to an end and the new campaign got off to a flying start with Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Justin Thomas the three most recent winners.

Taking wins, consistency, and strokes-gained statistics into consideration, here's how the top 10 golfers in the world shake out.

*Change from previous rankings in parentheses.

1. Rory McIlroy (+1)

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McIlroy went on a tear after a disappointing Open Championship in his native Northern Ireland. Since then, he's collected two wins, with one last week at the WGC-HSBC Champions and the other resulting in his second career FedEx Cup trophy at the Tour Championship. He's also finished inside the top 10 in seven of his last nine starts. The reigning Player of the Year is undoubtedly the best golfer in the world right now.

2. Brooks Koepka (-1)

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While still clinging to the No. 1 spot in the world ranking, Koepka's results have been extremely inconsistent since finishing second to Gary Woodland at the U.S. Open. He won the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational and placed inside the top five at Royal Portrush and the Tour Championship. However, he's failed to crack the top 20 in six of his last nine starts since Pebble Beach. He needs to contend in more non-majors to regain the top spot.

3. Justin Thomas (+3)

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Thomas' 2018-19 season was derailed by a wrist injury, one that he's put in the past with two wins over his last five starts. He ranked second in both strokes gained: tee to green and strokes gained: approach last season and is primed for a massive year in 2020.

4. Tiger Woods (-)

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Winning the Masters clearly took a toll on Woods last season. However, he looked completely rejuvenated at the Zozo Championship after undergoing offseason knee surgery and earned his third victory in the past 13 months. There's no question as to whether or not Tiger is one of the best players in the world if healthy, but his durability is a concern that continues to grow as he nears his 44th birthday.

5. Dustin Johnson (-2)

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It was a season to forget for Johnson after his runner-up finish to Koepka at the PGA Championship. He didn't crack the top 20 in his following eight starts to close the 2018-19 campaign and came dead last at the Tour Championship. A bounce-back season is to be expected from one of the game's most dominant figures.

6. Patrick Cantlay (+1)

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Cantlay has recorded second-place showings in two of his last four tournaments, including one at the BMW Championship during the postseason. He ranked second last season in strokes gained: total but only claimed one win to show for it. Expectations are sky-high for the 27-year-old in 2020.

7. Xander Schauffele (+1)

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Schauffele is cut from the same cloth as Koepka, as he seemingly always shows up for the season's biggest events but disappears when the pressure subsides. He's easily one of the most gifted players in the world with the potential to vault into the No. 1 spot if he contends on a more consistent basis.

8. Jon Rahm (+2)

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Rahm turned in his third consecutive multi-win year with two worldwide victories in non-team events during 2019. However, both those victories came on the European Tour in fields not quite as strong as those seen on the American circuit. Regardless, the 26-year-old sits fifth in the world ranking and is due for a breakout season - and a major championship title - in 2020.

9. Justin Rose (-4)

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Rose reached No. 1 in the world ranking multiple times as the calendar flipped from 2018 to 2019, but it's been all downhill since his most recent win at the Farmers Insurance Open in January. He only posted two top-five finishes from February on and fell to No. 8 in the world. The Englishman ranked 31st in strokes gained: tee to green last season, his worst performance since 2009.

10. Webb Simpson (NR)

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Simpson put together an underrated 2018-19 campaign. He failed to win a tournament but recorded three runner-up finishes, earned a spot on the 2019 Presidents Cup team, and climbed to No. 11 in the world ranking. Thanks to a strong approach game and a phenomenal year with his putter, the 2018 Players champion sat fifth in strokes gained: total last season.

Dropped out: Francesco Molinari

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