Expert Picks: The Honda Classic

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Mar. 3, 2010

The PGA TOUR moves east to Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., for The Honda Classic this week. Here's how the PGATOUR.COM experts sized up the top contenders:

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
MORE HONDA CLASSIC: Power Rankings | Inside the Field | Inside the course

Expert picks: The Honda Classic

Expert	Pick order	Player selected
Ryan Smithson			ROBERT ALLENBY. It's the Florida Swing and its de-emphasis on putting. That is why Allenby has done so well in Florida over the years. His T8 last week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open didn't hurt either.

Lauren Deason			Y.E. YANG. Thought about Rory McIlroy or Sergio Garcia, who both played well here last year, but something tells me the defending champ will take home the title again. After all, he nearly won last week at TPC Scottsdale and hasn't missed a cut all year.
If Deason had the top pick ... Yang
Brian Wacker			RORY MCILROY. Last year, McIlroy tied for 13th in this event. This year? I think he wins. He's too good not to win a bunch of times on TOUR and this will be the first of many for McIlroy, who may, in fact, end up being the next No. 1 player in the world.
If Wacker had the top pick ... McIlroy
John Swantek			SERGIO GARCIA. Looked a little flat in Match Play consolation loss to Villegas, but the challenge of a strong field and PGA National will have his full attention. Looks to continue a trend of 9 players since 1987 to win Honda before their first major.
If Swantek had the top pick ... Garcia
Mike McAllister			CAMILO VILLEGAS. Two starts, two top-10s for Villegas, who is flashing the same form he displayed at the end of 2008. And remember, he almost won here in 2007, losing in a playoff to Mark Wilson.
If McAllister had the top pick ... Villegas
Helen Ross			RICKIE FOWLER. Hey, I'll take a chance on the rookie. Forget the 15th hole -- he certainly was impressive last week in Phoenix. The sky appears to be the limit for the 21-year-old who already has another top-5 this year.
If Ross had the top pick ... Villegas
Nick Zaccardi			LEE WESTWOOD. My colleagues are disrespecting the Race to Dubai winner by letting him fall to the last pick. His Tiger-like win in the 2009 European Tour finale (plus two top-3s overseas in 2010) makes me think he's finally primed for success in the States.
If Zaccardi had the top pick ... Allenby

Standings after Week 8

LAST WEEK: Nick Zaccardi nearly overtook Brian Wacker when Robert Allenby tied for eighth at the Waste Management Phoenix Open:
Position	Name	Wins	Top-5s	Top-10s	Top-25s	FedExCup points
1	Brian Wacker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	1	4	3	3	962.43
2	Nick Zaccardi Associate Site Producer. PGATOUR.COM	1	2	5	6	933.83
3	Lauren Deason Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM	1	1	1	5	738
4	Ryan Smithson Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	-	1	2	4	366
5	Helen Ross Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	1	4	293
6	John Swantek Host, PGA TOUR Today	-	-	1	4	273.33
7	Mike McAllister Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	1	5	266.33