Mar. 31, 2009
The PGA TOUR continues its Florida Swing this week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. Here's how the PGATOUR.COM experts sized up the top contenders:
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EXPERT PICKS How it works: Our 10 experts from PGATOUR.COM select the player they think will win this week's event. By using a draft process, no two picks can be the same. SLEEPER PICKS Of the players who didn't make the cut for our top 10 picks, which have the best chance as sleepers? Here's how our experts see it. Click here |
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| Expert picks: Arnold Palmer Invitational |
Win McMurry |
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TIGER WOODS. The defending champion sealed the deal here when the pressure was on with that memorable hats-off birdie on 18. Tiger's won five times at Bay Hill, and he's due for another exhilarating victory. |
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Mike McAllister |
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VIJAY SINGH. I have no idea what shape his right knee is in or if it will hold up this week, so that's a big concern. But, if it does ... well, let's just say Singh loves Bay Hill. Consider his last four starts: T2, 7, 1, T3. Wow. |
| If McAllister had the top pick ... Woods |
Brian Wacker |
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KENNY PERRY. Balky putter be damned, I'm going with the Kentuckian for a second time in three weeks -- mostly because Tiger's off the board and because Perry can and has played well here with a W in '05 and a runner-up in '03.
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| If Wacker had the top pick ... Woods |
Mark Spoor |
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PADRAIG HARRINGTON. Sure, his numbers haven't been Paddy-like so far in 2009, but you have to figure that they'll get there sometime soon. He's also coming off his best finish of the season, a tie for 20th at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship. |
| If Spoor had the top pick ... Woods |
T.J. Auclair |
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RETIEF GOOSEN. He's been showing glimpses of brilliance in his last few starts, highlighted by last week's win at the Transitions Championship. He's always a major contender,and it looks like he's beginning to peak in time for Augusta. |
| If Auclair had the top pick ... Woods |
Ryan Smithson |
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CHARLES HOWELL III. At the last minute, I changed my pick from Furyk because I remembered that big hitters win at Bay Hill. I figured Charlie's extra 20 pounds can't hurt. |
| If Smithson had the top pick ... Woods |
Ceri Mobley |
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SEAN O'HAIR. Yes I know he missed the cut last week, and no I don't care. He's still off to a great start this year, and he tied for third at Bay Hill in '08. In O'Hair I trust.
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| If Mobley had the top pick ... Woods |
Helen Ross |
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NICK WATNEY. I considered picking him last week, but I was afraid he might have been drained by that final-round duel with Phil Mickelson at Doral. Watney finished 12th -- what do I know? So I couldn't pass up the hot hand this week.
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| If Ross had the top pick ... Woods |
Lauren Deason |
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ANTHONY KIM. Kim steps up in the big events and Arnie's tournament is certainly one of them. Wednesday Update: Kim withdrew from the tournament after our picks were made, so now JIM FURYK is the pick here. |
| If Deason had the top pick ... Woods |
John Swantek |
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BRETT QUIGLEY. He was a runner-up in his last two events, and he tied for 13th at The Honda Classic. He's been knocking on the door; don't be shocked if he kicks it in for the first time this week in his 343rd career start. |
| If Swantek had the top pick ... Woods |
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LAST WEEK: Six of our 10 experts missed the cut at last week's Transitions Championship, so there wasn't much movement in the standings. Here's how it stands after Week 11:
| Standings after Week 11 |
| 1 |
Mike McAllister Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM |
2 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
1,551.53 |
| 2 |
Brian Wacker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
1 |
4 |
- |
1,050.42 |
| 3 |
T.J. Auclair Interactive Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
1 |
- |
3 |
940.5 |
| 4 |
Mark Spoor Coordinating Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
922.91 |
| 5 |
Win McMurry Host, PGA TOUR Today |
- |
3 |
2 |
5 |
920.49 |
| 6 |
Lauren Deason Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
1 |
1 |
2 |
619.22 |
| 7 |
Ceri Mobley Associate Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
1 |
2 |
5 |
545.03 |
| 8 |
Helen Ross Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
2 |
- |
4 |
507.35 |
| 9 |
John Swantek Fantasy Insider, PGA TOUR Productions |
- |
1 |
- |
5 |
483.35 |
| 10 |
Ryan Smithson Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
1 |
2 |
- |
385.62 |
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