Sleeper Picks: Bob Hope Classic

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Jan. 18, 2011

The PGA TOUR travels to La Quinta, Calif. for the Bob Hope Classic. 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. To see the picks, click here.
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.

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Sleeper picks: Bob Hope Classic

Expert	Pick order	Player selected
Chris Dunham			KEVIN NA. He was on the cusp of breaking through for his first career victory a couple times last season, which included five sub-70 rounds in this event. Had a good 2011 debut at the Sony Open.
John Schwarb			KENNY PERRY. I've got the Champions Tour on the brain with this week's opener at Hualalai, but Perry's not in that field. He's still dabbling in TOUR stops and the Hope is a smart start. He won in 1995 and tied for third three years ago.
Helen Ross			ALEX PRUGH. He should return to the Bob Hope Classic with confidence after finishing solo fifth as a rookie last year. He knows how to go low after shooting 28 under there, and he's coming off three rounds in the 60s and a tie for 20th in Hawaii last week.
Ryan Smithson			BRANDT SNEDEKER. He's a weekly staple in this feature every week. Everyone loves to have him as a sleeper, especially this week because he's always capable of shooting 20 under. Really thought he's have more than one win by now.
Mike McAllister			JAMIE LOVEMARK. I'm going to jump on the rookie's bandwagon early. He didn't make the cut at Sony but I suspect he'll be more comfortable putting on greens he's familiar with in his native Southern California.
Brian Wacker			BEN MARTIN. I love how Martin sent his caddie to the Bob Hope Classic in advance to scout out the courses. Smart move. I don't think he'll have the type of rookie year Rickie Fowler did, but he'll get at least a few top-10s.
John Swantek			D.J. TRAHAN. Strong recent record at the Hope, with three top-15 finishes in a row here, including the title in 2008. Owns a deadly iron game (Seventh in GIR last two years) will produce plenty of birdie chances this week.
Anne Szeker			CHRIS KIRK. He was my sleeper last week and ended up low rookie. Not a bad option to have again this late in the Sleeper Picks. I bet he carries that good momentum to the Bob Hope this week.
Lauren Deason			MICHAEL SIM. This guy is primed for a breakout year in his third full year on TOUR. His game really has no weaknesses, and he is very comfortable on California greens. Another player who should get his first win this year.

Standings after Week 2

LAST WEEK: Helen Ross took first blood on the first week of the Sleeper Picks when her pick, Davis Love III, tied for ninth at Waialae:
Position	Name	Wins	Top-5s	Top-10s	Top-25s	FedExCup points
1	Helen Ross Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM	0	0	1	1	72.50
2	Brian Wacker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	0	0	0	1	48.00
3	Anne Szeker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	0	0	0	0	39.50
4	Mike McAllister Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM	0	0	0	0	33.50
5	Lauren Deason Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM	0	0	0	0	18.00
T6	Chris Dunham Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM	0	0	0	0	1.07
T6	Ryan Smithson Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	0	0	0	0	1.07
T7	John Schwarb Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	0	0	0	0	0.0
T7	John Swantek Host, On The Tee	0	0	0	0	0.0