May. 11, 2010
The PGA TOUR heads to a new course this week, TPC San Antonio, for the Valero Texas Open. 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: Valero Texas Open |
John
Swantek |
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ZACH JOHNSON. T22 at THE PLAYERS was best finish in 3 months for Zach, who has already won twice on a Greg Norman TPC design (Sugarloaf). Two time defending champion will dance a Texas three-step in San Antonio. |
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Helen
Ross |
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 | ERNIE ELS. He's never played in the Valero Texas Open before but given that TPC San Antonio is a new venue, everyone is sort of in the same boat. Here's hoping he forgets about last week's PLAYERS performance and gets back on track.
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| If Ross had the top pick ... Els |
Nick
Zaccardi |
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JUSTIN LEONARD. Leonard's three Valero Texas Open titles mean little this week at a new course, but he always seems to play well in his home state no matter the layout. He's got a great shot for his first top-10 of the year.
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| If Zaccardi had the top pick ... Els |
Brian
Wacker |
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J.B. HOLMES. His length off the tee should be an asset on a course that tops out at 7,500 yards. Holmes has played well this year, too, with four top-15 finishes, including a tie for 13th at THE PLAYERS. |
| If Wacker had the top pick ... Holmes |
Anne
Szeker |
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BO VAN PELT. He ranks second in total driving and fifth in GIR. He's been in the top 5 in his last three starts, and was one of the few players to shoot a sub-par round Sunday at TPC Sawgrass. How has he NOT won yet this season? |
| If Szeker had the top pick ... Holmes |
Ryan
Smithson |
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ADAM SCOTT. Tough course to pick this week but with nearly 7600 yards of terrain, you're going to want a big hitter. Adam hasn't played bad this year, and there is zero pressure on him.
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| If Smithson had the top pick ... Els |
Casey
Black |
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SERGIO GARCIA. Garcia was the player consultant at the Oaks Course, so he should feel comfortable here. If he can string together four decent rounds at TPC San Antonio, he could record his best finish of this season.
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| If Black had the top pick ... Els |
Mike
McAllister |
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JOHN ROLLINS. Comes off a T13 at THE PLAYERS, his third top-25 finish in four starts. On an unfamiliar course, it's good to keep it in play, and Rollins ranks 13th in GIR and sixth in total driving.
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| If McAllister had the top pick ... Holmes |
Lauren
Deason |
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CHAD CAMPBELL. The Texan ranks T19 in total driving, which will be a factor on this new 7,500-yard layout. He's also a four-time PGA TOUR winner who's had a respectable year with three top-25s in 12 starts.
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| If Deason had the top pick ... Els |
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| Standings after Week 18 |
LAST WEEK: Only three experts picked up points after a tough week at TPC Sawgrass:
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| Position |
Name |
Wins |
Top-5s |
Top-10s |
Top-25s |
FedExCup points |
| 1 |
Ryan Smithson
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
3 |
3 |
5 |
9 |
2055.33 |
| 2 |
Nick Zaccardi
Associate Site Producer. PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
6 |
11 |
12 |
1810.33 |
| 3 |
Brian Wacker
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
1323.43 |
| 4 |
Helen Ross
Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
1271.10 |
| 5 |
Lauren Deason
Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
2 |
3 |
9 |
1156 |
| 6 |
John Swantek
Host, PGA TOUR Today |
1 |
1 |
2 |
8 |
1129.08 |
| 7 |
Mike McAllister
Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
1 |
4 |
9 |
993.49 |
| 8* |
Anne Szeker
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
3 |
3 |
3 |
490 |
| 9* |
Casey Black
Host, PGA TOUR Today |
- |
- |
- |
- |
153 |
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