Expert Picks: PODS Championship

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T.J. Auclair
PGATOUR.com Interactive Producer
Pick: Mark Calcavecchia
How could you not like Calc this week at the PODS Championship? On top of the fact that he's the defending champion, Calc heads to Tampa this week fresh off of a tie for fourth at The Honda Classic. There can't be too much in the game of golf that's better confidence-wise than returning to a site as defending champion after playing so well the week before. If it weren't for what amounted to a couple of incredibly bad breaks on Sunday, Calc could be headed to Tampa as the TOUR's latest winner.

Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.com Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Joe Durant
This week's tournament will be contested at the Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course, a course that rewards excellent ball-striking. Because of that, Durant is our man this week. In 2008, he's ranked No. 9 on TOUR in driving accuracy and is amongst the top 10 players who most often hit the green in regulation. For his consistency Durant has been rewarded with zero missed cuts and four top-20 finishes out of six starts this season. The Florida native has finished in the top 5 three times out of six tries at the PODS Championship and last won on the PGA TOUR at the 2006 FUNAI Classic at Walt Disney World Resort in -- you guessed it -- Florida.

Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.com Correspondent
Pick: Ernie Els
We so wanted to go with Jonathan Byrd, but the Big Easy made it anything but. Byrd's got a track record here, but Els? It's been a while and, trust us, one win means there are more coming. Quite possibly in a row.

Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.com Correspondent
Pick: Ernie Els
Now that the gorilla is off his back and the Tiger demons are out of his mind, The Big Easy just might get on a roll. He does have some successful history at the PODS Championship, so let's see if he can go back-to-back and put his name out there as a player to be reckoned with again.

John Maginnes
PGATOUR.com Contributor
Pick: Ernie Els
I am riding the Ernie wave again this week. The only thing that was lacking in Ernie's game was confidence. With a renewed outlook and another demanding test of golf, look for the Big Easy to make it back-to-back victories.

Win McMurry
Host, PGA TOUR Today
Pick: Stuart Appleby
The Aussie has had four top-10s in every one of his four starts on the 2008 PGA TOUR. While he missed the cut last year at the PODS Championship, he has started his season much stronger this year and is due for a win. Ranked 27th in the world, Appleby hasn't won on TOUR since the 2006 Shell Houtson Open.

Scott Pianowski
The Fantasy Insider
Pick: Robert Allenby
He's missed the cut two straight times here, but he did bag a sixth-place check in 2004, and I love the way he's swinging right now, contending almost every week. Trust the eyes, and get Allenby in your lineup.

Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent
Pick: Ernie Els
As mentioned in my TOUR Insider column, Els has a history of following up victories with strong encores, having finished 11th or better after eight of his previous 15 PGA TOUR wins. Power hitters who can keep it in play and hit greens, like the Big Easy, tend to perform well at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort. Getting Dr. Bob Rotella in his head seems to have helped. A caveat: the putter needs to cooperate like it did at the Honda Classic.

Helen Ross
PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents
PIck: Mark Calcavecchia
I went back and forth between Ernie Els and Mark Calcavecchia. Both are obviously playing well, but I decided to pick Calc because I think he has more motivation this week. Those mistakes over the final nine holes at PGA National can't be sitting well. Calc knows how to play the Copperhead Course and a win would be a great way to excise those demons.

John Swantek
PGA TOUR Productions Fantasy Insider
Pick: Ernie Els
The thud you heard in South Florida on Sunday was the monkey crashing off Ernie's back after 49 winless TOUR events. Taming major-championship-tough PGA National has him sharp and ready for Copperhead. He's won back-to-back titles twice before in his career. Easy does it again this week in Tampa.

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