Sleeper picks: Legends Reno-Tahoe Open

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Aug. 5, 2009

The Legends Reno-Tahoe Open will take place at Montreux Golf and Country Club this week. 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. 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.

Sleeper picks: Legends Reno-Tahoe Open

Expert	Pick order	Player selected
Helen Ross			GREG CHALMERS. The Aussie shot four rounds in the 60s as he tied for second at the Buick Open last week. That was the left-hander's third top-20 in his last five starts, so he should head to Nevada with momentum.
Mike McAllister			JOHN ROLLINS. Should be coming in with lots of momentum after a T8 at the Buick. He finished T2 in Reno last year, albeit seven back of winner Parker McLachlin. Rollins is ninth in total driving, which should serve him well at the tight, 7,472-yard layout.
Ryan Smithson			ROLAND THATCHER. Stat I like: He hasn't scored higher than 72 in his last 16 rounds. He's one of the longer hitters on TOUR, and he's sure to pound some 400-yarders this week in the mountain air. He should be relaxed after last week.
John Swantek			JAMES NITTIES. This rookie has had a very solid rookie season at 87th in FedExCup points. He can be a little wild off the tee, but Montreaux's fairways are generous, so the Aussie can let it fly in the high altitude.
Mark Spoor			MARTIN LAIRD. He tied for fourth last year on the strength of a Sunday 66. He also had his high finish of the season -- 16th -- a couple of weeks ago in Canada. Here's hoping there's a perfect storm brewing for Martin this week.
Ceri Mobley			CHRIS RILEY. A past champion (2002) always has a good feeling going back to the scene of the crime, and it helps that he hasn't missed the cut in Reno since 1999. He's also coming off his two best finishes of the year so far -- T7 in Milwaukee and T16 in Canada. This sleeper's a dream.
T.J. Auclair			CHARLIE WI. Wi has been knocking on the door of PGA TOUR win No. 1 for the last few seasons. With the big guns playing in Akron this week, Wi is among the players with a chance to take advantage of a great opportunity to win.
Brian Wacker			J.J. HENRY. He hasn't played here since 2005 because he qualified the last few years for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. But when he did play here, he finished in a tie for fourth. Henry was also T5 at the John Deere Classic.
Lauren Deason			JONATHAN BYRD. His father, one of Byrd's biggest supporters, passed away several weeks ago, and Byrd has made just two starts since his death. It would be a fitting tribute to his late dad if Byrd, who tied for 14th at Montreux last year, won this event.
Win McMurry			CHARLES WARREN. He tied for second in 2007 and is in need of a good week to get inside the top 125 in the FedExCup points standings. Warren currently sits 127th after tying for 14th last week at the Buick Open.

LAST WEEK: Helen Ross' sleeper pick of Woody Austin last week gave her the lead in the overall standings:

Standings after Week 31

Pos.	Expert	Wins	Top 5s	Top 10s	Top 25s	FedExCup points
1	Helen Ross Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM	-	3	4	6	1,485.5
2	Lauren Deason Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM	1	2	3	7	1,445.75
3	Ryan Smithson Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	-	3	3	6	1,332.61
4	Brian Wacker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	1	-	2	5	1,235.01
5	John Swantek Fantasy Insider, PGA TOUR Productions	-	2	-	5	967.19
6	T.J. Auclair Interactive Producer, PGATOUR.COM	-	1	2	8	900.85
7	Mark Spoor Coordinating Producer, PGATOUR.COM	-	1	3	5	870.4
8	Mike McAllister Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM	-	3	3	6	848.74
9	Ceri Mobley Associate Producer, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	2	5	794.72
10	Win McMurry Host, PGA TOUR Today	-	-	3	6	792.03