Mar. 24, 2010
The PGA TOUR heads to Orlando for the Arnold Palmer Invitational 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: Arnold Palmer Invitational |
Helen
Ross |
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ERNIE ELS. We should have seen Ernie Els' win at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship coming. Four of his five starts prior to Doral had been 17th or better. There's no reason to expect that to change at Bay Hill, where Els is a former champ.
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John
Swantek |
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NICK WATNEY. Has developed a complete game which excels on any course, especially the tough ones - T9 at Torrey Pines, T4 at Copperhead last week. Ranked 9th in total birdies, Watney knows he can attack Bay Hill, where he finished 4th last year.
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| If Swantek had the top pick ... Watney |
Lauren
Deason |
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PHIL MICKELSON. The past two winners on TOUR? Ernie Els and Jim Furyk. Phil will join his fellow veterans and major champs in the winners circle at Bay Hill, where he captured the title in 1997.
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| If Deason had the top pick ... Mickelson |
Brian
Wacker |
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STEVE STRICKER. He doesn't have a great track record at Bay Hill, but the course has undergone some changes. There's also a reason why he leads in FedExCup points and money -- consistency. |
| If Wacker had the top pick ... Stricker |
Mike
McAllister |
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JUSTIN ROSE. Since the start of the Florida swing, Rose has found his game, with solid performances at Doral and Innisbrook. Still looking for his first TOUR win after 156 starts, Rose seems on the verge of breaking through. |
| If McAllister had the top pick ... Rose |
Anne
Szeker |
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CAMILO VILLEGAS. He hasn't finished outside the top 16 in his four starts this season -- and won in his last TOUR appearance at The Honda Classic. Villegas, who ranks first in scoring average, will be rested after a week off and ready to win at Bay Hill.
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| If Szeker had the top pick ... Villegas |
Nick
Zaccardi |
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RETIEF GOOSEN. A real all-or-nothing pick. In six tournaments this year, he has four top-sixes. The other two were a missed cut and a T56 in a 68-man field at TPC Blue Monster. Five straight made cuts at Bay Hill.
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| If Zaccardi had the top pick ... Mickelson |
Ryan
Smithson |
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JIM FURYK. It's asking too much for him to win again this week, but with Ernie Els off the board, he's a good guy to have with the last pick. He's got to be happy he didn't kill anyone with that shot on the 72nd hole at Copperhead.
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| If Smithson had the top pick ... Els |
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| Standings after Week 11 |
LAST WEEK: Ryan Smithson jumped two spots in the rankings with his Jim Furyk pick:
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| Position |
Name |
Wins |
Top-5s |
Top-10s |
Top-25s |
FedExCup points |
| 1 |
Nick Zaccardi
Associate Site Producer. PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
3 |
7 |
9 |
1207.33 |
| 2 |
Brian Wacker
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
1094.43 |
| 3 |
Ryan Smithson
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
926.5 |
| 4 |
Mike McAllister
Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
889.49 |
| 5 |
Lauren Deason
Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
1 |
2 |
7 |
849 |
| 6 |
Helen Ross
Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
- |
1 |
6 |
371.1 |
| 7 |
John Swantek
Host, PGA TOUR Today |
- |
- |
1 |
5 |
340.08 |
| 8* |
Anne Szeker
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
1 |
- |
1 |
166 |
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