Expert Picks: AT&T Classic

text size

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 can 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.

• Sleeper Picks: Who could surprise?
• Join our new Facebook fan page and get in the discussion: Give us your picks on Facebook

T.J. Auclair
PGATOUR.COM Interactive Producer
Pick: Zach Johnson
If it's a tournament in Georgia, Johnson is among the favorites. If it's a tournament in Duluth, Ga., Johnson IS the favorite. In four starts at the AT&T Classic, Johnson has won twice and never finished worst than a tie for 26th. All three of his PGA TOUR wins have come in the Peach State, highlighted of course by his first major victory at the Masters in 2007. He's obviously comfortable at TPC Sugarloaf and he'll be happy to play there this week in the midst of a rather unspectacular season.

Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.COM Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Stewart Cink
What's not to like about the newly shorn Stewart Cink? The Georgia Tech alum has a house near TPC Sugarloaf, so he will feel right at home this week. He's already made himself comfortable at the top of leaderboards this season by finishing in the top three on four occassions and missing just one cut all year. As for the AT&T Classic, Cink seems to like the course in Duluth, Ga. From 1998-2001, Cink's worst finish was a tie for 10th and his best was a runner up. He hasn't missed a cut there since 2002 and has top-25ed four of the last five years.

Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Stewart Cink
Simply playing too well not to win. Sleeping in his own bed won't hurt. Neither will five top 10s here in 10 tries. Need more? He's got six top 10s this year and four of them are top three. And, there's that new look he's got going. Who knew he'd look great bald?

Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Jonathan Byrd
Just a hunch on a guy with a steady record at this track.

John Maginnes
PGATOUR.COM Contributor
Pick: Stewart Cink
Stewart Cink will be a busy man this week. He will play jolly host and TOUR pro for all his friends at his home at TPC Sugarloaf. It also seems likely that he will finally do the only thing that he hasn't been able to do this year and that is win a golf tournament. Maybe he has just been waiting for this week.

Win McMurry
Host, PGA TOUR Today
Pick: Zach Johnson
Sign me up for the 2007 champ. He seems to like TPC Sugarloaf. Zach also finished Runner-up in 2006 to Phil Mickelson (who successfully defended his title--from 2005). And the winner before Lefty...Zach again in 2004.

Scott Pianowski
PGATOUR.COM Fantasy Insider
Pick: Ben Crane
Zach Johnson's got a killer resume here but I don't like how he's swinging these days. Crane gives me the best of both worlds; he's got a win and a sixth at Sugarloaf, and his 2008 game is in fine form (sixth at Sawgrass).

Helen Ross
PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
Pick: Stewart Cink
Last week's test at TPC Sawgrass was brutal, but now Cink returns home -- literally, as well as figuratively. The Duluth resident has had six top-10s at TPC Sugarloaf, including second in 1999. He may never have come into this tournament playing as well as he is now, though, with six top-10s in 11 starts this year.

Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.COM Senior Correspondent
Pick: Ben Crane
Coming off a tie for sixth at THE PLAYERS, where he said his game was as good as it's been all year. Former winner at TPC Sugarloaf might just find a bit more magic in a year in which some repeat winners have emerged (like J.B. Holmes, Boo Weekley ... oh, and Tiger Woods).

John Swantek
PGA TOUR Productions Fantasy Insider
Pick: Ben Crane
Quietly - and slowly, of course - Crane has bounced back from an injury plagued 2007 that limited him to nine events,. He's missed only one cut in 12 events this season while bagging four top-12 finishes. The champion here in 2003, the former Oregon Duck is ready to quack again.