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Sleeper Picks: Shell Houston Open
 
Mar. 28, 2007
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Which player could sneak up on the field in this weekend's Shell Houston Open? Our experts weigh in:

T.J. Auclair
PGATOUR.com Interactive Producer
Pick: Justin Leonard
He's made an incredibly unspectacular one cut in seven TOUR events this year. That was in the last tournament he played -- the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard where he tied for 75th. Playing in his home state of Texas might turn the tide for the struggling hero of the 1999 Ryder Cup. If he's going to have any success, he's got to get the short-stick going. He currently ranks 136th on TOUR with 29.84 putts per round.
Brett Avery
The Fantasy Insider
Pick: Bo Van Pelt
He's staying below the radar more this year than the last few thanks to only two top-15s and a handful of lesser placings. Two of his best, though, were his two most recent (tie for 22nd at Arnold Palmer Invitational, tied 27th at PODS Championship). Sure, he barely made the cut at Redstone Golf Club last year but he's got the game for this year's tougher, pre-Masters course conditions.
Lauren Deason
PGA TOUR.com Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Matthew Goggin
He tied for 16th at Redstone last year, part of a season where he had three top-10s and was No. 85 on the PGA TOUR money list. This year, Goggin's gotten off to a pretty rough start, with three missed cuts, a DQ and no finish better than 60th. So he's a true sleeper but one to watch out for if he gets his game going like last year. The Australian won twice on the Nationwide Tour in 1999 and has two international victories as well, but has yet to win on the PGA TOUR.
Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.com Correspondent
Pick: Rich Beem
He didn't play that great on the previous two courses -- at the Woodlands and the other Redstone course. But he likes this Rees Jones-David Toms layout. He tied for 11th last year, played well before taking a few weeks away. Yep, we're going with Beemer.
Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.com Contributor
Pick: Jarrod Lyle
Coming off a third-place finish at the Nationwide Tour's Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by Dynamic Industries. He has some momentum and played extremely well after getting a putting tip from his brother and caddie Layton. Look out.
John Maginnes
PGA TOUR Network on XM Radio analyst
Pick: John Daly
He needs a good year. Heck, he could use a decent week. On the giant Redstone course, Big John can release the big dog. However, I believe that John's putting will finally come around to compliment his long game. When he putts well he is hard to beat. If Appleby is the front runner look for John to play William Tell. Heck, I think they do that for fun in Arkansas on Friday nights.
Helen Ross
PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents
Pick: Charles Warren
He tied for sixth in his season's debut at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Since then, it's been feast or famine for Warren, but he has a solid history in Houston where he tied for 13th in 2005 and shared 21st last year. This could be a great week for the Clemson grad, whose Tigers made it to the finals of the NIT.
Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent
Pick: Joe Ogilvie
Not showing much so far in 2007, but the transplanted Ohioan might have a bit of an inside track this week now that he's on the board of directors for the Houston Golf Association. He took a sneak peak at the layout two weeks ago and gave Rees Jones and David Toms the thumbs up. Anyone who likes a golf course is going to play well there.

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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 Shell Houston Open
PGATOUR.com Experts 1st 2nd 3rd Top 10s Missed Cuts Total FedExCup Points
Helen Ross 3 1 1 7 4 24512.3
Dave Shedloski 3 1 1 7 5 22620.7
T.J. Auclair 2 2 2 7 3 21949.2
Melanie Hauser 3 0 0 4 7 17604.3
John Maginnes 3 0 0 3 6 17161.9
Brett Avery 2 0 0 5 5 15272.3
Dave Lagarde 2 0 0 4 6 14358.3
Lauren Deason 1 1 1 5 3 12453.3

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