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Sleeper Picks: Buick Invitational
 
Jan. 24, 2007
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PGA TOUR.com Staff

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Which player could sneak up on the field in this weekend's Buick Invitational? Our experts weigh in:

T.J. Auclair
PGATOUR.com Interactive Producer
Pick: Jonathan Kaye
Despite a bumpy 2006 season, Kaye had his best finish of the year at Torrey Pines in the Buick Invitational -- a tie for fourth. Few players may have been happier to see 2006 end than Kaye. He will go to the Buick Invitational with good memories to fall back on, though, and perhaps a confidence that was missing much of last season.
Brett Avery
The Fantasy Insider
Pick: Jose Maria Olazabal
Only his sixth start here but the No. 19 player in the world has won (2002), tied for second (2006) and tied for 13th (2001 inaugural appearance). He hasn't competed since taking a solo 11th in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa in early December, but he should be prepared.
Lauren Deason
PGA TOUR.com Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Lucas Glover
The 27-year-old has only one victory on the PGA TOUR, which came at the 2005 FUNAI Classic at the WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort. Over his career, though, Glover has 32 top-25 finishes, including 18 top-10s. Last week, he shot 80 on that windy Sunday and still managed to tie for 13th at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. If he can put that dismal round behind him, Glover could follow up last years tie for fourth at the Buick Invitational with a win.
Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.com Correspondent
Pick: Harrison Frazar
I thought about him and Lucas Glover last week and didn't go with either one. Frazar gets the nod after doing a better job of surviving the final round of the Hope.
Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.com Contributor
Pick: Nathan Green
Aussie rookie pushed Tiger into a playoff last year. Perhaps history will repeat.
John Maginnes
PGA TOUR Network on XM Radio analyst
Pick: John Rollins
You might think that I am a week too late on this one, but I disagree. John is the kind of player who knows how to ride a streak. Furthermore, he missed the playoff here last year by a single shot. Always pick a bomber at a bomber's paradise.
Helen Ross
PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents
Pick: Charles Warren
He played consistently well in his 2007 debut last week at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic - climbing seven spots into a tie for eighth with an even-par 72 in trying conditions on Sunday. Warren, who ranked ninth in total driving last year and second in eagles, had to gain confidence from that gritty performance.
Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent
Pick: Peter Lonard
The rest of the 144-player field is a sleeper with the hungry and accomplished Woods in the field. We'll take Lonard, a tough competitor who in his two appearances at Torrey Pines has a couple of top-25 finishes. He's coming off five par or better rounds at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and a tie for 39th after missing the cut in Hawaii, so he's got something to work with.
Mike Vitti
PGATOUR.com ShotLink Analyst
Pick: Jonathan Byrd
Byrd has never finished better than a tie for 37th in four starts at the Buick Invitational, but he has the game that should do well at this event. Byrd ranked 20th in scrambling and was 33rd in driving distance in 2006. He was second at last week's event in putting average and tied for fourth in birdie average and first in sand save percentage.

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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