Nov. 3, 2009
The world's top players are in action this week for the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions. 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.
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| Expert picks: World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions |
Lauren
Deason |
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TIGER WOODS. Though he's never won this tournament, I'm confident that he will at least finish in the top five. After all, it's a World Golf Championships event now, and we know he's won 16 of those in the past. |
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John
Swantek |
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PHIL MICKELSON. He generated some serious momentum in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup and Presidents Cup. Once again, he looks like the man to challenge Tiger in 2010. It starts this week.
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| If Swantek had the top pick ... Woods |
Win
McMurry |
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OLIVER WILSON. No player has finished in the top 10 in all three WGC events this year, but Wilson has the most consistent record (T9-Accenture, T5-CA, T11-Bridgestone). Plus, he lost in a playoff here in 2008 to Sergio Garcia.
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| If McMurry had the top pick ... Woods |
Helen
Ross |
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IAN POULTER. Sometimes his colorful clothes overshadow just how talented this Englishman is. He tied for 14th in Shanghai a year ago and he's got to be confident after winning Sunday in Singapore.
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| If Ross had the top pick ... Woods |
Mike
McAllister |
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PADRAIG HARRINGTON. He's pushing hard for his first 2009 win, and he has momentum (six consecutive top-10s on TOUR). Plus, he's had success in Asia, having won the 2002 BMW Asian Open and the 2003 Omega Hong Kong Open. |
| If McAllister had the top pick ... Woods |
Brian
Wacker |
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LEE WESTWOOD. He's finished in the top 10 in nine of his last 10 European events, which includes a win at the Portugal Masters two weeks ago. No wonder he tops the Race to Dubai, and that's exactly why I like his chances here.
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| If Wacker had the top pick ... Woods |
Mark
Spoor |
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GEOFF OGILVY. Ogilvy has two wins this year but none since the Match Play. He also has five top-10s in 20 starts but none since early September. To borrow from manager Lou Brown from "Major League," I've got a hunch he's due.
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| If Spoor had the top pick ... Woods |
T.J.
Auclair |
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ANTHONY KIM. It hasn't been a spectacular year for Kim -- especially after his incredible 2008. However, he's playing confident golf now. Last week, he made it to the finals of the Volvo World Match Play Championship, falling to Ross Fisher.
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| If Auclair had the top pick ... Woods |
Ceri
Mobley |
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RORY MCILROY. I can't believe no one has taken him yet. The superstar-in-training has had an enviable season in Europe and came close to his second '09 win last month. Let's not forget his tie for third at the PGA, either. |
| If Mobley had the top pick ... Woods |
Ryan
Smithson |
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HENRIK STENSON. The formula to find the HSBC winner? Use THE PLAYERS champ. Mickelson and Garcia pulled off the double in '07 and '08. One more thing: Try as I might, I can't come up with a "Major League" reference for Stenson.
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| If Smithson had the top pick ... Woods |
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LAST WEEK: Lauren Deason enjoyed a free week in first place as the Viking Classic was canceled.
| Fall Series picks standings after the Viking Classic |
| 1 |
Lauren Deason
Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM |
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1 |
1 |
1 |
$514,540 |
| 2 |
Win McMurry
Host, PGA TOUR Today |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
$484,550 |
| 3 |
John Swantek
Fantasy Insider, PGA TOUR Productions |
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1 |
2 |
2 |
$399,528.57 |
| 4 |
Helen Ross
Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
- |
2 |
2 |
$248,700 |
| 5 |
Brian Wacker
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
- |
1 |
2 |
$191,800 |
| 6 |
Mike McAllister
Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM |
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- |
- |
2 |
$182,570.91 |
| 7 |
Ryan Smithson
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
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- |
- |
1 |
$71,400 |
| 8 |
Mark Spoor
Coordinating Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
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- |
- |
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$33,725 |
| 9 |
Ceri Mobley
Associate Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
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1 |
$29,904 |
| 10 |
T.J. Auclair
Interactive Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
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- |
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$13,620 |
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