Expert Picks: The Masters
Apr. 6, 2010
The PGA TOUR heads to Augusta National for the Masters this week. Here's how the PGATOUR.COM experts size up the top contenders.
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EXPERT PICKS
How it works: Our 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. The player who wins the previous week picks last the following week.
SLEEPER PICKS
Of the players who didn't make the cut for our top picks, which have the best chance as sleepers? Here's how our experts see it. Click here |
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| Expert picks: The Masters |
Brian
Wacker |
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TIGER WOODS. I've learned never to underestimate Woods, no matter what the circumstances are. Reports are Woods' game is rusty and while Augusta National doesn't quite set up for him as well as it used to, you don't ever, ever pick against Woods.
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Mike
McAllister |
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ERNIE ELS. Els was runner-up twice here during an impressive five-year stretch between 2000-04, but he hasn't made the cut in his last three Masters starts. He's back to winning form, and its time for him to claim a Green Jacket.
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| If McAllister had the top pick ... Els |
Helen
Ross |
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LEE WESTWOOD. He's finished third in three of the last eight majors, including last year's Open Championship and PGA. With top-10s in two of his last three starts on the PGA TOUR, too, Westwood brings considerable momentum with him to Augusta.
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| If Ross had the top pick ... Els |
Casey
Black |
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RETIEF GOOSEN. He's made 6 of 7 cuts this year with five top-10s. He's calm, consistent and can handle the Augusta pressure. No doubt he's hungry for his first green jacket! |
| If Black had the top pick ... Els |
John
Swantek |
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PHIL MICKELSON. The guy with eight top 5 finishes and two green jackets is still available with the fifth pick? That record will trump his sub-par performance this year. Mickelson will be ready at the Masters. Always is. |
| If Swantek had the top pick ... Els |
Lauren
Deason |
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PADRAIG HARRINGTON. Hes notched three top-10s in 10 starts at Augusta National, including a T5 in 2008. The three-time major champ also finished T3 and T8 in two of his last three starts on TOUR, so his game is peaking at the right time.
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| If Deason had the top pick ... Woods |
Nick
Zaccardi |
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JIM FURYK. Consistent with loads of Masters experience. He's always around on weekends, hasn't missed a major cut since '07 and has been top-35 at Augusta five straight years.
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| If Zaccardi had the top pick ... Woods |
Anne
Szeker |
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MATT KUCHAR. Kuchar's been T3 and T8 in his last two starts and seems to be peaking just in time for Augusta. He finished 22nd in his first appearance in 1998, which is not too bad for a rookie.
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| If Szeker had the top pick ... Els |
Ryan
Smithson |
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LUKE DONALD. I can almost hear Rocky Balboa's trainer in Rocky III: "This man .... is a chipping machine! And he's hungry! He'll knock ya to tomorrow, Rock!" Translation: Donald's short game is always an advantage at Augusta, where he tied for third in 2005.
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| If Smithson had the top pick ... Els |
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| Standings after Week 13 |
LAST WEEK: Ryan Smithson's second winning pick of the season moved him into the No. 1 spot:
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| Position |
Name |
Wins |
Top-5s |
Top-10s |
Top-25s |
FedExCup points |
| 1 |
Ryan Smithson
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
2 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
1491.5 |
| 2 |
Nick Zaccardi
Associate Site Producer. PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
4 |
9 |
10 |
1410.33 |
| 3 |
Brian Wacker
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
1110.43 |
| 4 |
Lauren Deason
Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
1 |
2 |
7 |
920 |
| 5 |
Mike McAllister
Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
889.49 |
| 6 |
Helen Ross
Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
- |
1 |
6 |
886.1 |
| 7 |
John Swantek
Host, PGA TOUR Today |
- |
- |
1 |
5 |
377.08 |
| 8* |
Anne Szeker
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
2 |
- |
1 |
246 |
| 9* |
Casey Black
Host, PGA TOUR Today |
- |
- |
- |
- |
25 |
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