Sleepers: The Barclays

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Aug. 19, 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: Lee Janzen
The former two-time U.S. Open champion was the last player to qualify for the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. But, he travels to Ridgewood on the strength of an outstanding week in Greensboro. His final tally at the Wyndham Championship shows that Janzen tied for 15th, but check out his scores for the week -- 67-66-67-67. Pretty consistent and impressive, eh? Janzen is going to need to continue that trend if he hopes to make his postseason more than one event.

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Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.COM Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Brandt Snedeker
In some of the biggest events this year, including the majors and the winners-only Mercedes-Benz Championship, Snedeker has performed exceptionally. He tied for third at the Masters, tied for 10th at the Mercedes-Benz championship, tied for ninth at the U.S. Open and tied for 24th at the PGA Championship. The Barclays = big event, so Snedeker should continue his trend of stepping up and playing well. Then there's the Tom Watson effect. Stick with me as I explain my thought process on this one. Watson won the Senior PGA Championship at Ridgewood Country Club (site of The Barclays this year) in 2001. As we learned at the Masters, Watson is also the man Snedeker imitated as a young golfer and most wants to emulate now. Wouldn't a win at the same venue where Watson captured a Champions Tour major title do the trick?

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Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Zach Johnson
Long time, no see. Johnson threw out a great closing round in Greensboro, which could vault -- no Olympic pun intended -- him into contention here. Quite simply, he's too good of a player not to finish this year strong.


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Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Johnson Wagner
Has been working extremely hard on game improvement and has experienced a great deal of success on old-style courses in the New York area. Could get second victory close to home.


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John Maginnes
PGATOUR.COM Contributor
Pick: Fred Couples

Freddy Couples has played for two decades but this is his maiden voyage to the Playoffs. How well he will embrace the process remains to be seen. But we have seen a renewed spirit in his golf game and a little fire at times. He would be a great story to make a big move down the stretch. And if he wins The Barclays, he just might jump on another radar screen --.Paul Azinger's radar screen.

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Win McMurry
Host, PGA TOUR Today
Pick: David Toms
After his tie for 15th at the PGA Championship, I think the LSU Tiger and major champion has his game in form. While he enters the Playoffs 121st in the standings, look for him to make a big move and guarantee himself a spot not only in Boston, but in St. Louis as well.

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Scott Pianowski
The Fantasy Insider
Pick: Ben Crane
He's quietly developed a game that's very consistent tee-to-green, and he can definitely handle himself on a tricky putting surface. Isn't Crane just about due to make a deep run in a premiere event? Keep an eye on him.

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Helen Ross
PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
Pick: Brandt Snedeker
A year ago, he made a big move into the top 10 in the FedExCup standings with a win at the Wyndham Championship the week before the Playoffs began. Snedeker, who currently ranks 49th, could use a similar burst now and he tends to play the tough courses well.

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Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.COM Senior Correspondent
Pick: Zach Johnson
A strong weekend at the Wyndham Championship suggests he might be heading for something bigger in the coming weeks. Wedge play, chipping and putting will loom large this week, and the former Masters champion won't mind that contest.

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John Swantek
PGA TOUR Productions Fantasy Insider
Pick: Rocco Mediate
At 14th in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings, Rocco can justify a Paul Azinger Captain's Pick but Zinger needs some convincing. It's been 6 starts since the Woods-Mediate "Throwdown at Torrey", and Mediate hasn't exactly lit it up. Still, the 42 year old knows this is his best, if not last, shot to represent his country. Can you smell what The Rock is cookin'?

Expert standings
How our experts are faring after the Wyndham Championship
PGATOUR.com Experts 1st 2nd 3rd Top-10s Missed Cuts FedExCup Points
Win McMurry 8 6 3 21 11 63,847
Lauren Deason 4 9 1 18 13 49,247
Melanie Hauser 5 3 1 18 13 48,509
Scott Pianowski 3 7 3 22 16 46,684
Helen Ross 3 7 0 20 17 46,335
Dave Shedloski 2 8 2 19 15 43,591
Dave Lagarde 5 3 0 17 12 42,609
John Maginnes 4 3 2 12 19 37,313
T.J. Auclair 3 2 0 15 12 35,327
John Swantek 2 3 1 13 13 28,080
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