Aug. 25, 2010
The PGA TOUR travels to Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J. this week for The Barclays. 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 |
| WYNDHAM: Power Rankings | Tee Times | Inside the Field | Inside the Course | FANTASY GOLF: Play our game -- FREE! |
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| Expert picks: The Barclays |
Casey
Black |
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TIGER WOODS. Tiger Woods is playing for a lot this week. Not only is he trying to impress Corey Pavin for a Ryder Cup Captain's pick, he's also fighting for his FedExCup life. Also, if he's been working with Sean Foley, perhaps his game is starting to come around.
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Anne
Szeker |
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 | DUSTIN JOHNSON. DJ is one of the of the hottest players coming into the Playoffs opener. With the disappointment of Whistling Straits behind him, he'll have something to prove during the next four-week stretch.
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| If Szeker had the top pick ... Johnson |
Helen
Ross |
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ERNIE ELS. He's got a chance to do something he's never done before -- and that's win PGA TOUR Player of the Year. It's always nice to be honored by your peers, and a FedExCup win could do it for Els so he's got plenty to play for the next four weeks.
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| If Ross had the top pick ... Els |
Brian
Wacker |
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PHIL MICKELSON. Phil loves New York and New York loves Phil and even though The Barclays is in New Jersey, it's close enough. Mickelson always seems to play well in the area and a win here would all but lock up Player of the Year honors.
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| If Wacker had the top pick ... Mickelson |
Ryan
Smithson |
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TIM CLARK. My original pick, Jim Furyk, got disqualified for missing the pro-am, but I had the thought on Tuesday night anyway that I should have picked Clark at this course. It sets up perfect for him.
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| If Smithson had the top pick ... Woods |
John
Swantek |
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STEVE STRICKER. In 11 career Playoffs appearances, he's finished out of the top 20 just once, while winning twice. Mr. September strikes again, securing his second straight three-win season. And yes, he cries afterward.
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| If Swantek had the top pick ... Stricker |
Mike
McAllister |
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RORY MCILROY. Top-10 finishes in each of his last three TOUR starts, including a T3 at St. Andrews despite that second-round 80. He's poised to make a big impact in his first Playoffs appearance.
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| If McAllister had the top pick ... McIlroy |
Lauren
Deason |
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MATT KUCHAR. He's arguably the hottest player on TOUR right now, with top 10s at the PGA and the Bridgestone Invitational. In terms of stats, he's No. 1 in the all-around ranking, scoring average and top-10 finishes. The only thing he's missing? A win.
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| If Deason had the top pick ... McIlroy |
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| Standings after Week 33 |
LAST WEEK: With favorites Carl Pettersson and Ryan Moore missing the cut, it was a dismal week for Expert Picks. Lauren Deason had the lone top 10 with Brandt Snedeker:
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| Position |
Name |
Wins |
Top-5s |
Top-10s |
Top-25s |
FedExCup points |
| 1 |
Ryan Smithson
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
5 |
7 |
9 |
17 |
3737.83 |
| 2 |
Brian Wacker
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
2571.84 |
| 3 |
Helen Ross
Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
2 |
6 |
13 |
1940.49 |
| 4 |
Lauren Deason
Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
2 |
7 |
16 |
1879.72 |
| 5 |
Mike McAllister
Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
2 |
6 |
16 |
1820.45 |
| 6 |
John Swantek
Host, On The Tee |
1 |
2 |
2 |
14 |
1625.83 |
| 7* |
Anne Szeker
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
2 |
5 |
7 |
9 |
1533.82 |
| 8* |
Casey Black
Host, PGA TOUR Today |
1 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
1377.30 |
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