Expert picks: Turning Stone Resort Championship

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Sep. 30, 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.

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T.J. Auclair
PGATOUR.COM Interactive Producer
Pick: Carl Pettersson
Pettersson hasn't missed a cut in his last seven starts (two of those were the BMW Championship and THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, which had no cut due to limited fields), including a win at the Wyndham Championship. He's going to have an advantage on most of the field at Turning Stone this week, seeing as Pettersson qualified for all four Playoff events. He tied for 22nd last week at East Lake, but he's got the recent competitive rounds under his belt that a lot of this field lacks. Furthermore, Pettersson tied for fifth at Turning Stone in 2007. Look for him to improve on that this week.

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Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.COM Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Bill Haas

In the past few weeks, we've seen the emergence of Camilo Villegas, plus we've witnessed a few stellar performances from Sergio Garcia and Anthony Kim. In other words, we're seeing the future of the PGA TOUR. Haas, another young golfer, might not be on the same level as those players (yet), but he did fare well in the Fall Series last year -- he tied for 10th in last season's Turning Stone Resort Championship -- and tied for fourth in the first event in the 2008 Fall Series, the Viking Classic, two weeks ago. If he can just play well early in the week and gain some confidence, Haas might join his fellow young colleagues in the winner's circle.

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Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Jason Gore
It's a wide-open field, so take your pick. Steve Flesch going back-to-back is interesting. Bill Haas breaking through? Not a bad thought either. But the dart lands on Gore. He's playing well coming in and with a couple weeks of rest ... he had top 10 here last year.

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John Maginnes
PGATOUR.COM Contributor
Pick: Woody Austin

He has to feel a little bit like the odd man out after the Ryder Cup. He was the closest player to not make the Ryder Cup team. That is the type of motivation that he might need to play well this week. Look for Woody to have a little chip on his shoulder this week and play inspired golf.

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Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Steve Flesch
Lefty lit up the Fall Finish last season, turning what could have been a sour year into a solid one. He's secure with more than $1 million in official earnings in '08, but the opportunity to move up the money ladder from 71st into the land of lots of perks knocks with another great stretch run.

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Win McMurry
Host, PGA TOUR Today
Pick: Carl Pettersson

This 2008 Wyndham Champion could strike again this week at the Turning Stone Resort Championship. Last year's winner, Steve Flesch, won twice within two months, and I think Pettersson could do it as well. Plus, in 2007, Pettersson played in the last pairing with Flesch in the final round at the Atunyote Golf Club. He went on to finish tied for fifth.

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Scott Pianowski
The Fantasy Insider
Pick: Robert Allenby

How does a player this consistent and versatile go without a win for so long? The Allenby we've seen in 2008 figures to visit the winner's circle soon. He had three excellent rounds at this event last year before a disappointing 73 on Sunday; at least we know he can score on this course.

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Helen Ross
PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
Pick: John Rollins

It's been an up-and-down year for Rollins, but he's rested and ready to go. He's a former champ at Turning Stone, and he's got a couple of top 10s this summer, including a tie for second at the Reno-Tahoe Open. This could be the week he gets his third PGA TOUR title.

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Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.COM Senior Correspondent
Pick: Steve Flesch
He's the only one with winning memories at Atunyote Golf Club. This Ohio native might be able to shrug off the chilly and wet weather expected in New York.

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