Apr. 1, 2009
The PGA TOUR finished up the Florida Swing in style with a signature win from Tiger Woods and heads to the Lone Star State this week for the Shell Houston Open. 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: Shell Houston Open |
Win McMurry |
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GEOFF OGILVY. The two-time '09 winner finished runner-up here last year when Redstone tailored the course to play similar to Augusta National. With the same setup this year, and Ogilvy eyeing another major title, the Aussie's game is primed for a third title. |
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Ceri Mobley |
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PHIL MICKELSON. Mickelson hasn't played in Houston a ton, but there's a reason he chose to play here this week and skip Bay Hill last week: It will get his game ready for the Masters. With a win at Doral under his belt, how much work can it need? |
| If Mobley had the top pick ... Mickelson |
Helen Ross |
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VIJAY SINGH. His health concerns me -- his back, not his knee. But he managed to close with a 69 at Bay Hill, and his record in Houston is stellar. He's won twice since it moved to Redstone and three times overall. Maybe this is just what the doctor ordered.
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| If Ross had the top pick ... Mickelson |
Brian Wacker |
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STEVE STRICKER. I grew up a fan of John Elway, who was always having to pick himself back up. Ditto Steve Stricker, who has had some crushing losses. He's played well this year and in Houston with a T11, T9, a third and a T19 four of the last five years. |
| If Wacker had the top pick ... Stricker |
Mark Spoor |
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SERGIO GARCIA. I'll use the same logic here that I used when picking Padraig Harrington last week. Sure, he hasn't hit his stride here in the U.S. yet, but you have to know it's coming. Why not this week? |
| If Spoor had the top pick ... Mickelson |
Ryan Smithson |
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CAMILO VILLEGAS. I have to apologize in advance for picking Camilo, because with my backing, he'll shoot 98-88 to miss the cut. I have to remain in last place somehow.
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| If Smithson had the top pick ... Mickelson |
T.J. Auclair |
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STUART APPLEBY. He's a two-time winner at the Shell Houston Open, including a wire-to-wire win in 2006. Appleby also tied for eighth at the Transitions Championship two weeks ago.
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| If Auclair had the top pick ... Ogilvy |
Mike McAllister |
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PADRAIG HARRINGTON. His game is rounding into form as he gears up for a run at a third consecutive major win, and he's played decent in his three previous starts in Houston, with 10 of his 12 rounds at Redstone resulting in par or better.
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| If McAllister had the top pick ... Mickelson |
Lauren Deason |
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ALVARO QUIROS. The Spaniard hasn't missed the cut in three starts on the PGA TOUR this season. One of Europe's hottest young golfers, the 26-year-old won the Qatar Masters by three strokes earlier this season. |
| If Deason had the top pick ... Ogilvy |
John Swantek |
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RORY McILROY. With poise and composure well beyond his 19 years, not to mention tons of game, the fresh-faced kid from Northern Ireland will experience his first TOUR win before his first shave. |
| If Swantek had the top pick ... Stricker |
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LAST WEEK: Win McMurry and Ceri Mobley battled each other down the stretch with their respective picks of Tiger Woods and Sean O'Hair. McMurry's Woods victory moved her into second place in the standings. Here's how it stands after Week 12:
| Standings after Week 12 |
| 1 |
Mike McAllister Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM |
2 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
1,556.53 |
| 2 |
Win McMurry Host, PGA TOUR Today |
1 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
1420.49 |
| 3 |
Brian Wacker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
1 |
5 |
- |
1,130.42 |
| 4 |
Mark Spoor Coordinating Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
983.41 |
| 5 |
T.J. Auclair Interactive Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
1 |
- |
3 |
974 |
| 6 |
Ceri Mobley Associate Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
2 |
2 |
5 |
845.03 |
| 7 |
Lauren Deason Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
1 |
1 |
2 |
619.22 |
| 8 |
Helen Ross Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
3 |
- |
4 |
616.1 |
| 9 |
John Swantek Fantasy Insider, PGA TOUR Productions |
- |
1 |
- |
5 |
483.35 |
| 10 |
Ryan Smithson Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
1 |
2 |
1 |
432.62 |
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