Picks: John Deere Classic

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Jul. 9, 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 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.

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T.J. Auclair
PGATOUR.com Interactive Producer
Pick: Sean O'Hair
Since a win at the PODS Championship, a tie for third at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard and a tie for 14th at the Masters, O'Hair fell into a slump missing the cut in his next three starts. Prior to the win, O'Hair hadn't done a whole lot in the 2008 season and since that sensational stretch that ran through the Masters he hasn't done much. Obviously, he's a streaky player. I expect that streak to go in the right direction as he heads to the John Deere Classic -- the site of his first PGA TOUR win in 2005. It's a place where O'Hair is comfortable and it could set the tone as we head toward the Playoffs.

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Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.com Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Sean O'Hair
Perry or not Perry? That seems to be the question each week now as Kenny Perry is the hottest TOUR player not on bed rest. However, I think this tournament goes to 20-something Sean O'Hair, not 40-something Perry. O'Hair won the event back in 2005 and tied for 39th at TPC Deere Run in '06. He's already snagged one title this season and, though he hit a rough patch after he tied for 14th at the Masters, O'Hair has recently started making cuts again. It won't be long -- and could even be this week -- until O'Hair's back in the winner's circle.

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Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.com Correspondent
Pick: Tim Clark
It's hard to overlook Kenny Perry, who's on his way to a career year, or Aaron Baddeley, who needs a jumpstart going into Birkdale. Or even defending champ Byrd. But Clark's been close so many times ... and this is his time of the year. He was second in this event last year.

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Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.com Correspondent
Pick: Kenny Perry
It would be hard to get off this hot horse, especially at a place where his past performances are solid, including four top-10s in seven starts. He's ready to make it three wins in his last five starts in 2008.

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John Maginnes
PGATOUR.com Contributor
Pick: Kenny Perry
If you think that I am hopping off the Kenny Perry express, you have another thing coming. No one has played better this summer. OK, an argument could be made that some have played as well, but none of those players are at the John Deere Classic this week. Kenny Perry could be on his way to the best season of his career.

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Win McMurry
Host, PGA TOUR Today
Pick: Kenny Perry
I'm with the TOUR Insider. Four top-10s in seven starts at the John Deereis tough enough to ignore. Add Perry's two wins and runner-up finish this season and I don't think anyone else on paper can beat him.

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Scott Pianowski
The Fantasy Insider
Pick: Kenny Perry
Lately, he's been the John Deere Tractor and the rest of the field is the grass -- no player has been hotter over the last two months. Perry ran 11th in his return to Wisconsin last year, and he bagged four Top-10 checks at the event in the 1990s. Maybe you can find a good reason to steer away from Perry here, but I can't.

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Helen Ross
PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents
Pick: Kenny Perry
Granted, his four top-10s in the John Deere Classic came at a different golf course. Kenny Perry tied for 11th in his debut at the TPC Deere Run last year, though -- and there is that little matter of two wins in his last six starts on TOUR this year. How can you pick against the man from Kentucky?

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Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent
Pick: Aaron Baddeley
Baddeley is due for a good finish. He has to get past the sizzling Kenny Perry, but Badds has a lot of good in his game, and maybe a change of scenery (this will only be his second appearance at TPC Deere Run) will give him a psychological spark.

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John Swantek
PGATOUR.com Productions Fantasy Insider
Pick: Bubba Watson
This is the perfect storm. The big man is eighth on TOUR in total birdies, ready to attack a par-71 that has yielded more than all but four courses over the past four years. Plus, look at the run-up; He tied for sixth at the Travelers Championship, he tied for second at Buick Open. Don't forget that this event has crowned six first-time champions in the last nine years. Most importantly, we need a TOUR winner named Bubba. If he was Joe Watson, I'd pass.



Expert Standings
How our experts are faring after the AT&T National
PGATOUR.com Experts 1st 2nd 3rd Top-10s Missed Cuts FedExCup Points
Win McMurry 7 4 3 16 9 52,404
Melanie Hauser 5 3 - 15 10 45,002
Lauren Deason 4 7 1 15 10 44,108
Dave Shedloski 2 6 2 15 11 37,926
Scott Pianowski 2 6 3 17 13 37,241
Helen Ross 2 5 - 16 13 36,392
Dave Lagarde 4 2 - 14 9 33,801
John Maginnes 3 3 2 10 15 31,533
T.J. Auclair 3 1 - 10 10 27,948
John Swantek 2 3 1 9 12 23,826
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