Sleeper Picks: Sony Open in Hawaii

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Jan. 14, 2011

The PGA TOUR travels to Honolulu, Hawaii this week for the Sony Open. Here's who the PGATOUR.COM experts like at Waialae Country Club:

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: Sony Open in Hawaii

Expert	Pick order	Player selected
John Swantek			JAMIE LOVEMARK. Many rookies will tee it up in this week's first full field event. Keep a close eye on the Nationwide Tour's leading money winner from a year ago, who will eventually win PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year honors.
Brian Wacker			ALEX PRUGH. A good ball-striker and solid putter, Prugh had early-season success last year with three top-10s in his first four events and finished strong with a runner-up at the Frys.com Open late in the year. He'll carry that momentum to Waialae this week.
Mike McAllister			SPENCER LEVIN. The last time we saw Levin, he was putting together back-to-back top-5 finishes at the end of the 2010 Fall Series. Hopefully, the momentum has not disappeared. A year ago, he finished tied for 25th, shooting 68-67 on the weekend.
John Schwarb			PAUL GOYDOS. OK, there's a few guys younger than the 46-year-old in this field, but the 2007 winner at Waialae still has enough game and guile to make age irrelevant. I don't recall any young whippersnappers shooting 59 last year.
Helen Ross			DAVIS LOVE III. He's finished in the top 10 six times in 11 starts at the Sony Open, including a tie for fifth last year. The 46-year-old could use a strong start in this Presidents Cup year.
Anne Szeker			CHRIS KIRK. I'm expecting good things from this Nationwide Tour grad. He missed the last few starts of 2010, and a chance to win Player of the year, because of a broken thumb, but should be ready to go in Hawaii.
Chris Dunham			RYUJI IMADA. Imada's earnings have slipped each of the past two years, but I think he turns things around and has a good 2010. Top-10 finishes in his last two Fall Series starts suggest the 24-year-old is turning things around.
Ryan Smithson			KYLE STANLEY. Total longshot, but I love this guy's game and have ever since he showed up at the Travelers Championship on an exemption one year. Has to be fired up after navigating through q-school. My pick for rookie of the year (if anyone cares).
Lauren Deason			MICHAEL SIM. He made headlines a few times last year, most notably at the Farmers Insurance Open (T2), the Turning Stone Resort Championship (T3) and the Wyndham Championship (T3). Sim finished 11th in putting average on the PGA TOUR in 2010.