Expert picks: St. Jude Classic pres'd by FedEx

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Jun. 10, 2009

The PGA TOUR heads to Memphis, Tenn., for this week's St. Jude Classic presented by FedEx. Here's how the PGATOUR.COM experts sized up the top contenders:

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
Expert picks: St. Jude Classic presented by FedEx
Expert
 
Pick order Player selected
 
Ceri
Mobley
JUSTIN LEONARD. Last time I took Phil the week before a major, I got burned, so I can't do it. The defending champion has two wins at this tournament, and he's had two top-20s and a top-five in his last three starts.
 
Win
McMurry
DAVID TOMS. His record of six top-10 finishes, which includes wins in 2003 and 2004, is solid in Memphis. Add to that Toms' current standing as 22nd in the FedExCup standings, and he's a sure bet this week.
If McMurry had the top pick ... Leonard
Helen
Ross
PHIL MICKELSON. I can't pass up the No. 2 player in the world -- not even when he missed the cut the only time he played TPC Southwind. Mickelson is serious about playing or he wouldn't be here, and the fans will provide an emotional lift.
If Ross had the top pick ...Toms
Lauren
Deason
SERGIO GARCIA. I'm taking a chance on the Spaniard this week. Garcia finished 13th in his most recent start on the European Tour and seems to be showing signs of improvement, plus he tied for fourth in Memphis last year.
If Deason had the top pick ... Toms
Mark
Spoor
BRIAN GAY. He hasn't exactly torn down the house the past few weeks, but a final-round 64 last week at the Memorial was enough to pique my interest. He's shown this season that when his swing is right, he can more than hold his own with the best.
If Spoor had the top pick ... Toms
Brian
Wacker
TIM CLARK. Clark is coming off a playoff loss at Colonial that might take time to get over. Other than that, though, he's had a good season with three other top-10s. He also ranks fourth in greens in regulation and seventh in total putting.
If Wacker had the top pick ... Clark
Ryan
Smithson
ROBERT ALLENBY. I am going to stop playing for victories (it isn't working) and grind out some top fives (which isn't working, either). Bobby's my man this week. It would have been Clark. He'll win a tournament by 10 shots when we least expect it.
If Smithson had the top pick ... Clark
T.J.
Auclair
RETIEF GOOSEN. The two-time U.S. Open champ has shown signs of his old winning self this season, highlighted by a win in March at the Transitions Championship, which was his first victory since 2005. He's been solid all season.
If Auclair had the top pick ... Toms
John
Swantek
HENRIK STENSON. I get the sixth-ranked player in the world with the ninth pick? I like the math on that one. I think THE PLAYERS champion has proven he can beat a strong field on a demanding TPC layout. Expect him to do it again.
If Swantek had the top pick ... Allenby
Mike
McAllister
BOB ESTES. In his last 10 starts at TPC Southwind, he has five top-10s, including a win -- one of four in his TOUR career -- in 2001. While he hasn't exactly been lighting it up in '09, he does have six top-20 finishes in 14 starts, including a T4 at Pebble Beach.
If McAllister had the top pick ... Toms

LAST WEEK: Ceri Mobley earned 500 points by picking Tiger Woods at the Memorial Tournament, while Win McMurry's Jim Furyk pick gave her 300 FedExCup points and moved her into the top spot in our standings. Each week, we'll update the standings based on the FedExCup points accumulated by the players selected by our experts. Here's how it stands after Week 22:

Standings after Week 22
Pos. Expert Wins Top 5s Top 10s Top 25s FedExCup points
1 Win McMurry
Host, PGA TOUR Today
2 6 5 6 2,944.13
2 Mike McAllister
Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM
3 4 2 5 2,824.85
3 Ceri Mobley
Associate Producer, PGATOUR.COM
2 4 2 7 2,405.53
4 Brian Wacker
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM
1 1 7 1 1,437.92
5 Mark Spoor
Coordinating Producer, PGATOUR.COM
1 2 1 4 1,390.80
6 T.J. Auclair
Interactive Producer, PGATOUR.COM
1 1 - 7 1,255.25
7 Helen Ross
Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM
- 5 1 6 1,121.93
8 Lauren Deason
Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM
- 1 2 4 997.69
9 John Swantek
Fantasy Insider, PGA TOUR Productions
- 2 - 7 898.75
10 Ryan Smithson
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM
- 1 4 1 676.12
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