Expert Picks: HP Byron Nelson Championship
May. 19, 2010
The PGA TOUR heads to the TPC Four Seasons for the HP Byron Nelson Championship. Here's how the PGATOUR.COM experts sized 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: HP Byron Nelson Championship |
Mike
McAllister |
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HUNTER MAHAN. The positives? He's the highest-ranked player in the field (17th) and he lives near the course. The negatives? He's never finished better than T42 in six previous starts here. But he's too good not to contend this week. |
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John
Swantek |
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 | J.B. HOLMES. Has developed into a complete player, adding a reliable putting stroke (ranked 13th) to his prodigious length (3rd). At 15th in FedExCup points, has been knocking on the door all season and finally corrals a win in Big D.
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| If Swantek had the top pick ... Holmes |
Casey
Black |
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RYAN PALMER. Both Bo Van Pelt and Trevor Immelman, my first two picks, withdrew, so I'm going with Palmer. He's already won once this season and the Texan is coming off a T9 at last week's Valero Texas Open.
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| If Black had the top pick ... Mahan |
Lauren
Deason |
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SEAN O'HAIR. O'Hair has often been overlooked in our expert picks this year despite five top-25 finishes in 11 starts. The former Texan (he was born in Lubbock) finished second in 2005 at the HP Byron Nelson Championship. |
| If Deason had the top pick ... Mahan |
Anne
Szeker |
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RICKIE FOWLER. He's the highest-ranking rookie in the FedExCup standings -- thanks to four top 10s -- and ranks high ball-striking and total driving. With U.S. Open qualification on the line he should have another strong week. |
| If Szeker had the top pick ... Mahan |
Brian
Wacker |
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HEATH SLOCUM. Slocum leads the TOUR in driving accuracy and is 12th in greens in regulation. He's also finished in the top 10 in two of his last three starts, including at THE PLAYERS, where he tied for fourth.
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| If Wacker had the top pick ... Mahan |
Helen
Ross |
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BEN CRANE. His performance at TPC Sawgrass two weeks ago was top-notch and this is his first start since. Already a winner in 2010, Crane lives in the Metroplex so a win here would be a popular one.
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| If Ross had the top pick ... Crane |
Ryan
Smithson |
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DUSTIN JOHNSON. I am really glad he is still on the board. It's been a good year for big hitters despite the groove change. It was either Johnson or Charley Hoffman this week -- I hope I won't regret not taking Hoffman.
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| If Smithson had the top pick ... Johnson |
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| Standings after Week 19 |
LAST WEEK: Ryan Smithson earned his fourth win of the year with Adam Scott's victory at the Valero Texas Open:
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| Position |
Name |
Wins |
Top-5s |
Top-10s |
Top-25s |
FedExCup points |
| 1 |
Ryan Smithson
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
4 |
4 |
6 |
10 |
2555.33 |
| 2 |
Helen Ross
Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
1416.10 |
| 3 |
Brian Wacker
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
1380.43 |
| 4 |
Lauren Deason
Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
2 |
3 |
9 |
1190 |
| 5 |
John Swantek
Host, PGA TOUR Today |
1 |
1 |
2 |
8 |
1129.08 |
| 6 |
Mike McAllister
Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
1 |
4 |
9 |
993.49 |
| 7* |
Anne Szeker
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
3 |
3 |
3 |
532.5 |
| 8* |
Casey Black
Host, PGA TOUR Today |
- |
- |
- |
- |
176.5 |
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