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Jan. 24, 2007• Who are the sleepers? • Tournament Coverage • Play Official TOUR Fantasy Games
Which player will take the honors in this weekend's Buick Invitiational? Our experts weigh in:
| T.J. Auclair |
| PGATOUR.com Interactive Producer |
| Pick: Tiger Woods |
| Yes, I know, he's the most obvious pick of all, but I'd be an idiot not to pick Tiger Woods to win the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines -- practically a playground of his. In nine trips to this tournament, his worst finish is a T10. Aside from that abysmal performance, he's never finished outside the top five and has won four times. This week he makes it five wins and, in so doing, collects his seventh consecutive PGA TOUR victory. |
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| Brett Avery |
| The Fantasy Insider |
| Pick: Tiger Woods |
| The age-old incentive: Now that his wife is expecting a child, he better hurry up and win some money so he can provide properly for the offspring. (Of course, the fact that hes won here four times and never finished worse than a tie for 10th is a compelling factor, too.) |
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| Lauren Deason |
| PGA TOUR.com Editorial Coordinator |
| Pick: Phil Mickelson |
| When Tiger Woods is in the field, it's hard to pick against him, especially when he is going for his seventh consecutive PGA TOUR victory. But consider these two important facts about Mickelson: A San Diego native, he has won this tournament in his hometown three times, and the last time Tiger carried a six-win streak into the Buick Invitational in 2000, it was Mickelson who denied him seven in a row. Can history repeat itself? |
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| Melanie Hauser |
| PGATOUR.com Correspondent |
| Pick: Tiger Woods |
| Like there's another choice? Tiger owns this one. He's -- what -- a kazillion under par here? Even the USGA will have trouble throwing him curves on this layout next year. And no, it doesn't matter if this is his '07 debut. Still rolling your eyes? I could throw more at you, but just remember, he's also got unfinished business with another record -- Byron Nelson's 11 in a row. |
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| Dave Lagarde |
| PGATOUR.com Contributor |
| Pick: Tiger Woods |
| How do you pick against the chalk here? Nine starts, nine top 10, including three victories. Torrey Pines North and South are Tiger tracks. |
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| John Maginnes |
| PGA TOUR Network on XM Radio analyst |
| Pick: Tiger Woods |
| If you don't pick Tiger this week you just aren't paying attention. Of course, he is the two-time defending champion playing in his first event of the season. And, yes, he is going for seven in a row. But I think the overriding factor for Tiger's success this week is... baby needs a new pair of shoes. |
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| Helen Ross |
| PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents |
| Pick: Tiger Woods |
| I wanted to pick someone else. I really did. But c'mon. He's the two-time defending champion who is going for his seventh PGA TOUR victory in a row. Not to mention, Tiger Woods has won his season-opener four times and never finished lower than 10th in his debut since joining the TOUR full-time in 1997. I'd be crazy not to pick him. |
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| Dave Shedloski |
| PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent |
| Pick: Tiger Woods |
| We could recount all the pertinent statistics, like the fact Woods is the two-time defending champion and has never finished out of the top 10 in nine starts at Torrey Pines. But the real key here is going for seven wins in a row, which he has had a chance to do only once before (though one more time than just about anyone else not named Nelson or Hogan). Phil Mickelson ended the streak last time in 2000 at the Buick Invitational. This time Woods won't be denied. |
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| Mike Vitti |
| PGATOUR.com ShotLink Analyst |
| Pick: Troy Matteson |
| Power and touch around the greens have been an effective combination at this event. In 2006, Matteson ranked 30th in overall driving distance and so far in 2007 he has already converted 72.34 percent of his scrambling attempts. |
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Wondering how our experts are doing so far this season? Here's a look:
| How they're doing |
| The 2007 record of PGA TOUR.com experts after last week's Bob Hope Chrysler Classic |
| PGATOUR.com Experts |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Top 10s |
Missed Cuts |
Total FedExCup Points |
| Lauren Deason |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
7411 |
| Helen Ross |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
6399 |
| Melanie Hauser |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
6230 |
| T.J. Auclair |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
5067 |
| John Maginnes |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
4853 |
| Mike Vitti |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
3379 |
| Brett Avery |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1412 |
| Dave Shedloski |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1356 |
| Dave Lagarde |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1161 |
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The 2007 Champions Tour continues this week with the playing of the Turtle Bay Championship. PGATOUR.com Editorial Coordinator Lauren Deason offers up her pick to win.
| Lauren Deason |
| PGATOUR.com Editorial Coordinator |
| Pick: Hale Irwin |
| Now that his streak of 25 consecutive tournaments without a victory is over, look for Irwin to continue his dominance in Hawaii by earning his seventh Turtle Bay Championship. He's earned more than $4.1 million in the Aloha State during his career, including unofficial money in three Skins Games and his PGA TOUR win at the 1981 Hawaiian Open. The most successful Champions Tour player in history, Irwin now has 45 victories and, with career Tour earnings of $23,674,705, he averages more than $86,000 per start. |
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The 2007 Nationwide Tour also commences this weekend with the Movistar Panama Championship. PGA TOUR.com contrbiutor Dave Lagarde gives us his pick to win.
| Dave Lagarde |
| PGA TOUR.com contributor |
| Pick: Brendan Pappas |
| Stewed the entire offseason about missing his PGA TOUR player's card with a horrid final round at the Nationwide Tour Championship and a poor performance in Qualifying School. Has plenty of game and a history of success in Panama. |
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