Sleepers: BMW Championship

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Sep. 16, 2008

Editor's note: PGATOUR.com has tried to make our experts work a little harder when they make their picks each week. The favorite can be anyone in the field, although Tiger Woods could only be used seven times during the year. Sleepers can't have won in 2008 or had a top 10 in their last five starts. A sleeper can't be ranked in the top 30 in the field, either.

Who could win? Expert picks
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T.J. Auclair
PGATOUR.COM Interactive Producer
Pick: Heath Slocum
Slocum jumped 23 spots in the Playoffs standings with his tie for 15th at the Deutsche Bank Championship. That was critical, as Slocum started the week at No. 79 in the standings and needed a strong finish to get into the field of 70 at the BMW Championship. Because of the resiliance he showed at TPC Boston, I like him as my sleeper this week in St. Louis. Sunday's 3-over 74 at TPC Boston was his worst round of the week, but the course was also at its toughest. Look for Slocum to keep the momentum going for the third leg of the Playoffs.

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Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.COM Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Woody Austin
He wasn't picked for Captain Azinger's squad, which might give him a little "I'll show you" motivation this week. It's been a few weeks since Austin has found the top 10 -- he was runner-up at the Buick Open and tied for ninth at the John Deere Classic in late July -- but he's on the verge of playing well. Last week, he shot 72, 66 and 66 in the first three rounds but dropped into a tie for 40th with a final-round 75. If he puts four good rounds together at Bellerive Country Club, he could come out on top.

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Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Jay Williamson
We're going for the heart-tugger here. Just playing at this home course -- and in front of all his family and friends -- is a win for Williamson. That won't be enough. He'll play well and . . . well, you never know. This is one crazy game.

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Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Jay Williamson
Home cooking could help Williamson finally break through after all these years on TOUR.

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John Maginnes
PGATOUR.COM Contributor
Pick: Angel Cabrera

It's getting harder and harder to find a dark horse these days. But Cabrera still fits the bill. He played his way into the BMW Championship with solid play at the Deutsche Bank Championship and just may be primed to make a move in St. Louis. There won't be as much movement among the field this week as there has been the last couple of weeks because there is no cut. Everyone will recieve some points. Cabrera will need a lot of them to make the field in Atlanta and he just might be playing well enough to do it.

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Win McMurry
Host, PGA TOUR Today
Pick: Bubba Watson
Bellerive is a long course with big greens where ball striking is at a premium. As one of the longest hitters on TOUR, Watson has an advantage. He's lingering around the top-30 line in the FedExCup rankings and a good week will ensure a spot in The TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola.

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Scott Pianowski
The Fantasy Insider
Pick: Scott Verplank
He faded down the stretch in Boston, but overall it's been a solid three months for Verplank (six checks in seven starts). His accurate driver and steady putter should serve him well at Bellerive Country Club.

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Helen Ross
PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
Pick: Heath Slocum
Had it not been for Monday's 74, Slocum would have done better than that tie for 15th at the Deutsche Bank Championship. If he plays the way he did the first three rounds, shooting 12 under, he could be a factor at Bellerive.

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Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.COM Senior Correspondent
Pick: Brandt Snedeker
Perhaps with the Ryder Cup hunt finally over, this talented young American will shine again. He sure knows how to play old major championship-type courses, and Bellerive is clearly in that class. He's also done decently on Rees Jones renovations.

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John Swantek
PGA TOUR Productions Fantasy Insider
Pick: Scott Verplank
You might think 7,400 yards is too long for Verplank, but Ridgewood was a similar length and the veteran tied for 12th at The Barclays. Bellerive is major championship tough, which suits Verplank's fairways and greens game perfectly. Minimizing mistakes will be key this week, and that's the Verplank way.

Expert standings
How our experts are faring after the Deutsche Bank Championship
PGATOUR.com Experts 1st 2nd 3rd Top-10s Missed Cuts FedExCup Points
Win McMurry 8 6 3 21 12 68,551
Lauren Deason 4 9 1 18 13 58,150
Melanie Hauser 5 3 2 19 13 57,120
Scott Pianowski 3 7 3 22 17 54,008
Dave Lagarde 6 3 0 18 12 53,609
T.J. Auclair 4 2 0 16 12 53,480
Helen Ross 3 7 0 21 17 52,340
Dave Shedloski 2 8 2 19 15 50,712
John Swantek 1 3 1 14 13 50,080
John Maginnes 4 3 2 12 19 44,139
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