Aug. 25, 2009
The PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup begin this week in Jersey City, N.J. 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. Click here 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. |
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| Sleeper picks: The Barclays |
Ryan Smithson |
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BRANDT SNEDEKER. Snedeker does well when the score is around 15-20 under, so I have no idea how he will handle Liberty National, but he's playing as well as anyone on TOUR right now.
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Lauren Deason |
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JONATHAN BYRD. He hasn't missed a cut since late May despite dealing with the recent loss of his father. Byrd has quietly put together a good season eight top-25s in 18 starts, including two top-10s and the three-time TOUR winner can handle the Playoffs pressure.
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Ceri Mobley |
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JUSTIN ROSE. A wiser person would likely avoid Rose because he's so unpredictable, but he's one of my all-time favorites, and he has ties for 29th, 16th, 13th and fifth in his last five starts (ignoring that MC at the PGA). He just needs to stay focused like last week.
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Mark Spoor |
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KEVIN SUTHERLAND. He's the often-forgotten member of that three-way playoff in last year's Barclays with Sergio Garcia and Vijay Singh. Also, he tied for fifth last week at the Wyndham Championship. That's enough for me.
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Brian Wacker |
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CHAD CAMPBELL. No one's quite sure what to make of Liberty National since it's never hosted a TOUR event, but Campbell is among the best at hitting the green in regulation and he can be streaky good with the putter. At least I'm hoping he is this week. |
T.J. Auclair |
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CHARLIE WI. Liberty National is expected to be a tough test, and while Wi hasn't had a good follow-up season in 2009, this is the time of the year where he starts playing better. His accuracy will benefit him here. |
Mike McAllister |
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STEPHEN AMES. He has two top-10 finishes in his last four starts, and tied for 10th last time he was in the New York area (at Bethpage Black). His all-around ranking is eighth, which is comforting to know on a course hosting its first TOUR event.
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Win McMurry |
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JOHN SENDEN. The Aussie has five top-10 finishes in 2009, with his best finish coming a few weeks ago with a tie for second at the Buick Open. He's 31st in the FedExCup standings so needs three solid weeks to make it to Atlanta.
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Helen Ross |
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BRETT QUIGLEY. Granted, it would be more cool if the Massachusetts native picked up his first win next week at TPC Boston. But he's got to start somewhere and after three runner-up finishes in '09, maybe Liberty National will provide the freedom he needs. |
John Swantek |
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JOHN MERRICK. I like the fact that the Californian has performed well in big moments on tough courses (6th Masters, T10 U.S. Open). After competing in three playoff events last year and finishing 44th in the point standings, he's hungry for THE TOUR Championship.
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LAST WEEK: Brian Wacker moved into second place when Jeev M. Singh tied for 17th at the Wyndham Championship, while Ryan Smithson and Win McMurry both picked up top-5 finishes with their sleeper picks last week.
| Standings after Week 33 |
| 1 |
Helen Ross Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
3 |
4 |
9 |
1,631.5 |
| 2 |
Brian Wacker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
1,581.01 |
| 3 |
Lauren Deason Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
2 |
3 |
9 |
1,573.25 |
| 4 |
Ryan Smithson Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
4 |
3 |
6 |
1,474.61 |
| 5 |
Mike McAllister Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
4 |
3 |
6 |
1,176.74 |
| 6 |
John Swantek Fantasy Insider, PGA TOUR Productions |
- |
2 |
1 |
5 |
1,125.44 |
| 7 |
Mark Spoor Coordinating Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
2 |
3 |
5 |
1,058.4 |
| 8 |
T.J. Auclair Interactive Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
1 |
2 |
9 |
981.85 |
| 9 |
Win McMurry Host, PGA TOUR Today |
- |
1 |
3 |
7 |
954.03 |
| 10 |
Ceri Mobley Associate Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
- |
2 |
6 |
877.72 |
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