Expert Picks: Stanford St. Jude Championship

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: Kenny Perry
Sign me up for the Kenny Perry fan club. Unfortunately in the age of Tiger Woods, hot streaks are overlooked. In reality, golf is not a sport where streaks are meant to be achieved. However, Perry is doing special things lately. If it weren't for a couple of rough Sundays, Perry might have won four of his last six starts. However, as a high school wrestling coach once told me, "If ifs and buts were candies and nuts, everyday would be Christmas." I'm still trying to figure out what that means, exactly, but I think it means there's no looking back or second-guessing. You do what you do and move on. If Perry, or any golfer, dwelled on Sunday failings they wouldn't be the players they are. That's why he won the Memorial Tournament and that's why he's got to be the favorite again this week. He's missed the cut in his last four starts in Memphis, but who am I to say the hot man's streak is ending this week?

Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.COM Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Brandt Snedeker
Is there a down side to picking Snedeker? Sure, he hasn't exactly rebounded from that tie for third at the Masters Tournament in early April. His best finish since was a tie for 53rd at the Verizon Heritage and he enters the Stanford St. Jude Championship after missing the cut at THE PLAYERS Championship and the Memorial Tournament. But now for the good -- the Tennessee native and Vanderbilt alum returns to his home state this week and to a tournament where he tied for fifth last season. There's no better time to show the golf world that he's over that heartbreaking, tear-jerking loss in Augusta, Ga., than in front of his family and friends in Memphis.

Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: David Toms
Yes, I almost took Kenny Perry, who's streaky and knows a win may not be be enough alone to make the Ryder Cup team. But Toms is proven here -- he's won twice. Playing well and the heat -- yes, it feels like August -- will keep his cranky back loose.

Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Justin Leonard
Leonard has a victory here, plus a number of top-10s. He's cooled off after a sizzling start in 2008, but a week of rest should have him ready.

John Maginnes
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Vijay Singh
Singh has played well this year but keeps tripping on the top step. He has a couple of second-place finishes and a few other top-fives, but hasn't finished a tournament off just yet. I think that he is as due as the rent. Vijay is trying to jump start his year and who would bet against him? What better way to charge into the year's second major than a victory in Memphis, a place that has grown close to Vijay's heart.

Win McMurry
Host, PGA TOUR Today
Pick: Vijay Singh
The Big Fijian definitely has the children of St. Jude behind him this week. Phil Mickelson was named ambassador for the Crowne Plaza and won at Colonial. ... In only two previous starts at the event, Singh has tied for 13th and for 30th, which statistically ranks him fifth best in the field in average finish. Singh has recorded three eagles this season, ranking him 55th on TOUR, so I bet he's looking to step up his performance this week for St. Jude.

Scott Pianowski
PGATOUR.COM Fantasy Insider
Pick: David Toms
I could slot him as a sleeper pick per our rules, but let's use Toms as the headliner, given his outstanding track record here (two wins this decade, five top-five finishes, 12 straight cuts made). His ball striking has come around nicely over the last two months, and I'll be stunned if he's not in contention this week.

Helen Ross
PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
Pick: Kenny Perry
I rode the hot hand last week, and all it got me was a tie for 20th. I hope Memorial champion Kenny Perry is different, though. He's always been a streaky player -- and true to form, he's had a chance to win three of the last four weeks. He's motivated, too, to take advantage of the momentum with the Ryder Cup on his mind.

Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.COM Senior Correspondent
Pick: Kenny Perry
Taking off the U.S. Open, so this is like a major for him as a follow-up to his Memorial Tournament victory. Self-described streaky player hasn't played that well at TPC Southwind and isn't a fan of the Champions Bermuda that was put down on the putting surfaces during the 2005 renovation, but his ball striking is so solid right now that he could trip into a top-five without much effort.

John Swantek
PGA TOUR Productions Fantasy Insider
Pick: Vijay Singh
What has Singh been doing since a missed cut at THE PLAYERS? Not relaxing, I can assure you. Continuing to refine a swing change, he's digging for answers in the dirt. Remember, he leads the TOUR in GIR at 70 percent and owns four top-five finishes, but at 45, Vijay is determined to prove that he can win again. And I'm determined to ascend from ninth in the standings.