Apr. 28, 2009
Some of the biggest names on the PGA TOUR will be in Charlotte, N.C., this week for the Quail Hollow Championship. 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: Quail Hollow Championship |
Win McMurry |
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TIGER WOODS. The 2007 champion did not have a chance to defend his title in 2008, but look for him to earn his second Quail Hollow win in 2009. And seriously, how can you bet against Tiger?
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Helen Ross |
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PHIL MICKELSON. Lefty has never won at Quail Hollow, but he does have three top-10s in five starts, including a T3 in 2007. This major championship-caliber venue would be a great place to pick up his third win of '09 -- and the momentum that goes with it.
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| If Ross had the top pick ... Woods |
Brian Wacker |
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STEWART CINK. It's been a pretty disappointing season for Cink so far, but Quail Hollow is the perfect place to turn it around. It's a big course that suits his game and he's played well there before, finishing T8 last year and T5 in '07.
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| If Wacker had the top pick ... Woods |
Mike McAllister |
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JIM FURYK. It has been hit or miss for Furyk at Quail Hollow. In five starts, he has three top 10s (including one win) and two MCs. He has been inconsistent this year as well, but he has played his best when the fields have been strongest (CA Championship, Masters).
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| If McAllister had the top pick ... Woods |
Mark Spoor |
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GEOFF OGILVY. Ogilvy has three top-15 finishes in his past four starts, including the match-play win. That alone should be enough to warrant a pick. Add Ogilvy's incredibly consistent record at Quail Hollow and he's an easy selection. |
| If Spoor had the top pick ... Woods |
Ceri Mobley |
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STEVE STRICKER. Runner-up in '07 -- the year of Steve Stricker -- he can work Quail Hollow. Stricker is having another banner year, so I like his chances in Charlotte, plus he's got a little Wisconsin momentum going on right now thanks to Jerry Kelly. |
| If Mobley had the top pick ... Woods |
Ryan Smithson |
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ANTHONY KIM. I think the person last in the standings (myself) should pick first every week. Kind of like the Detroit Lions. Matt Stafford. $42 million. Laugh out loud.
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| If Smithson had the top pick ... Mickelson |
T.J. Auclair |
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SERGIO GARCIA. It's been a slow start to the season for Garcia, who is No. 130 in the FedExCup standings. But, he has a title defense at THE PLAYERS next week and has tied for second at Quail Hollow in the past. He has to break out of the slump soon.
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| If Auclair had the top pick ... Woods |
Lauren Deason |
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DAVIS LOVE III. Older players seem to be grabbing all the headlines on TOUR this year, and veteran Love would continue that trend. Plus, I'm a tad biased and rooting for a fellow Tar Heel to win another championship, especially near his old stomping grounds. |
| If Deason had the top pick ... Woods |
John Swantek |
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VIJAY SINGH. Tried to trade for the fifth pick to get Mark Sanchez. Major championship type course. Major championship type field. Major champion wins.
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| If Swantek had the top pick ... Singh |
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LAST WEEK: Both Win McMurry and Helen Ross had players tie for second at Zurich Classic of New Orleans last week. 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 16:
| Standings after Week 16 |
| 1 |
Win McMurry Host, PGA TOUR Today |
1 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
1,813.23 |
| 2 |
Mike McAllister Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM |
2 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
1,735.03 |
| 3 |
Brian Wacker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
1 |
6 |
- |
1,261.42 |
| 4 |
T.J. Auclair Interactive Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
1 |
- |
5 |
1,110.25 |
| 5 |
Mark Spoor Coordinating Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1,086.59 |
| 6 |
Ceri Mobley Associate Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
2 |
2 |
7 |
965.53 |
| 7 |
Helen Ross Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
4 |
- |
4 |
853.43 |
| 8 |
John Swantek Fantasy Insider, PGA TOUR Productions |
- |
2 |
- |
6 |
681.35 |
| 9 |
Lauren Deason Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
1 |
1 |
2 |
670.22 |
| 10 |
Ryan Smithson Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
1 |
3 |
1 |
548.12 |
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