Expert Picks: Waste Management Phoenix Open

text size

Feb. 3, 2011

The PGA TOUR travels to Scottsdale, Ariz. for the Waste Management Phoenix Open. 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? To see who our experts picked, click here.

MORE: Power Rankings | Inside the Field | Inside the Courses | FANTASY GOLF: Play our game -- FREE!

Expert picks: Waste Management Phoenix Open

Expert	Pick order	Player selected
John Swantek			PHIL MICKELSON. Utilizing an aggressive, strategic approach, Phil will have Bones tend the flag on every shot inside 100 yards. Kidding. But seriously, the former ASU Sun Devil (two wins, 9 top-10s here) will make it three victories in the Valley of the Sun.

Anne Szeker			DUSTIN JOHNSON. It's his second start at this event, which should be a perfect fit for his long-hitting style. Plus, he's finished in the top 10 in both of his 2010 starts, including last week's tie for third at Torrey Pines.
If Szeker had the top pick ... Johnson
John Schwarb			BUBBA WATSON. Do you remember Bubba missing the cut at the Bob Hope before winning Farmers? I do, 'cause he was my pick that week. Hope I'm not one week too late to jump back on the Watson train, but I don't think so at big-hitter-friendly Phoenix.
If Schwarb had the top pick ... Mickelson
Lauren Deason			NICK WATNEY. He set a course record for at the Farmers Insurance Open last week by firing a 28 on his first nine holes in the final round. Watney has a fairly good track record at TPC Scottsdale with a T24 and a T12 in his last two starts.
If Deason had the top pick ... Mickelson
Helen Ross			RICKIE FOWLER. Yes, he faltered last weekend with rounds of 73-74, but Fowler has history at TPC Scottsdale. He gave Hunter Mahan a run for his money last year before losing by a shot. Maybe his buddy Bubba Watson's win Sunday will inspire him.
If Ross had the top pick ... Mickelson
Brian Wacker			BILL HAAS. Three starts, three top-10s, including a runner up at the Bob Hope Classic two weeks ago. Haas obviously has momentum, but he also plays well in the desert and two years ago tied for ninth in Phoenix.
If Wacker had the top pick ... Mickelson
Chris Dunham			ANTHONY KIM. The thumb injury looks to be well in his rear view mirror as AK has returned to form with three top-25 finishes on the young season. If not for a third-round 76 last year, he'd have been in the mix down the stretch at TPC Scottsdale.
If Dunham had the top pick ... Mickelson
Ryan Smithson			JHONATTAN VEGAS. Uh, yeah. Kind of shocked to have him this late. It's not like had a lot of experience at PGA West or Torrey Pines. This guy has 10 straight rounds in the 60s, and his swing is so on-plane, it's ridiculous. I love how he played for the win last Sunday.
If Smithson had the top pick ... Johnson
Mike McAllister			J.B. HOLMES. He has two TOUR wins in his career ... and both of them have come at TPC Scottsdale. He comes off a forgettable weekend performance at Torrey Pines (75-76 to finish T-63) but it's hard to ignore his track record in this event.
If McAllister had the top pick ... Mickelson

Standings after Week 4

LAST WEEK: A strong week from our panel with eight top-20 finishes. Mike McAllister was the big mover with Phil Mickelson, runner-up at Torrey Pines, helping him jump from No. 8 to No. 3 in the standings.
Position	Name	Wins	Top-5s	Top-10s	Top-25s	FedExCup points
1	Lauren Deason Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM	0	2	3	3	512.00
2	Brian Wacker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	0	1	2	4	441.44
3	Mike McAllister Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM	0	1	1	2	379.00
4	Ryan Smithson Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	0	2	2	2	286.07
5	Chris Dunham Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM	0	0	3	3	269.16
6	Anne Szeker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	0	1	2	3	229.00
7	Helen Ross Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM	0	0	2	2	168.00
8	John Swantek Host, On The Tee	0	0	1	2	141.50
9	John Schwarb Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	0	0	0	2	109.50