Sleepers: Sony Open in Hawaii

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Jan. 13, 2009

The PGA TOUR remains in Hawaii for the second straight week, as the first full-field of the season tees it up at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Here's who the PGATOUR.COM experts selected as sleeper picks:

SLEEPER PICKS
How it works: Our 10 experts from PGATOUR.COM select any player who isn't ranked in the top 20 of the FedExCup rankings, the top 30 of the Official World Golf Rankings and hasn't won that season. By using a draft process, no two picks can be the same.
EXPERT PICKS
Who do our experts think will capture the Sony Open in Hawaii title? Here's who they've picked to win. Click here

Sleeper picks: Sony Open in Hawaii

Expert	Pick order	Player selected
Mike McAllister			RORY SABBATINI. Sabbatini has knocked on the door twice in his past three Sony starts. Is this the year he comes crashing through?
Win McMurry			LUKE DONALD. Look for the Englishman to make a 2009 comeback from his August '08 wrist surgery. His performance in December is evidence he's healed; his final-round 66 was the lowest recorded at the Chevron World Challenge.
John Swantek			JERRY KELLY. He's finished 13th or better in 6 of his last 7 trips to Honolulu and he's always itching to compete. Considering the alternative is shoveling snow in Wisconsin, I can see why.
Ryan Smithson			JARROD LYLE. He typically plays well early in the year and I fully expect him to easily keep his card for 2010.
Mark Spoor			PARKER MCLACHLIN. Sure, he's the hometown guy (or is it home island?), but don't forget that he tied for 10th last year. This year, he returns with the confidence that a PGA TOUR victory gives you.
Helen Ross			DAVID TOMS. Toms is back with Cleveland Golf and has reunited with his long-time caddy, Scott Gneiser -- a combination that produced 11 TOUR wins. He hasn't finished lower than 13th in his last four starts at Waialae CC, including a win in '06 and a T4 in '02.
T.J. Auclair			BRAD FAXON. Partly because I'm a homer and partly because I believe my fellow Rhode Islander is itching to start playing again without injuries holding him back. It helps that he's a past winner at Waialae too.
Ceri Mobley			ARRON OBERHOLSER. Risky after all that post-injury time off? Maybe. But he tied for fourth in his last start, so I'll take my chances.
Lauren Deason			BUBBA WATSON. He's coming off his most consistent season where he finished 30th in the playoffs. This power hitter has led the driving distance category for three years but still hasn't earned his first TOUR title.
Brian Wacker			BART BRYANT. He's got a couple of top 15s at the Sony Open in Hawaii, including a T9 there a few years ago. He's also accurate off the tee and when he has the flat stick rolling can contend the way he did against Tiger Woods at Bay Hill last year.