Sleeper Picks: John Deere Classic

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Jul. 5, 2011

The John Deere Classic is this week at TPC Deere Run. Here's how the PGATOUR.COM experts sized up the top contenders:

MAKE YOUR PICKS: Tell us who you think will win this week at TPC Deere Run.

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 who our experts picked, click here
SLEEPER PICKS
Of the players who didn't make the cut for our top picks, which have the best chance as sleepers?

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Sleeper Picks: John Deere Classic

Expert	Pick order	Player selected
Chris Dunham			TOMMY GAINEY. Two Gloves loves birdiefests like we'll see at TPC Deere Run. He's been double-digits under par in three of his four top-10s this year. On the Nationwide Tour in 2010, he was a combined 44 under in his two wins.
John Swantek			CHARLIE WI. Shot a final-round 79 at the AT&T National, but he's a strong putter that consistently puts himself in position to win. His final-round scoring average is one of the highest on TOUR, but a good Sunday at TPC Deere Run could change that.
Amanda Balionis			ROBERT GARRIGUS. Bashes his driver and makes a lot of birdies, which makes him a good fit for TPC Deere Run -- he finished tied for 23rd here in 2009. He's also playing well right now with a third at the U.S. Open and a T20 at the AT&T National.
Ryan Smithson			TROY MATTESON. Is coming off a top 20 at the AT&T National. He's a long hitter who is also one of the leaders in eagles on TOUR, which should help where he needs to be this week -- deep into red figures.
Mike McAllister			CHRIS STROUD. Comes off a T6 at the AT&T National, his second top-10 of the year. Has shot par or better in his last eight rounds on TOUR, and finished T15 in his last appearance at TPC Deere Run (2009).
Helen Ross			CHRIS KIRK. Held the course record at Aronomink for about an hour on Saturday on the way to his third top-10 of the season. It was still a career-low on TOUR and a momentum-builder for the former Georgia All-American now making his first start at the John Deere.
Lauren Deason			ANDRES ROMERO. The fiery Argentinian ranks among the best in birdie and eagle average and has a strong all-around game. He won in 2008 at the Zurich Classic, and after strong showings at the Travelers and the AT&T National looks primed to win again.
Anne Szeker			CAMERON TRINGALE. I just have a good feeling about this guy. He's put up some solid finishes this season: T5 at Valero, T18 at Zurich, T8 at FedEx St. Jude. Seems like he's getting closer to putting together four low rounds.
Brian Wacker			PAUL GOYDOS. We're not asking for another 59, but a steady week of low-to-mid 60s would be a nice week for the 47-year-old that isn't showing any signs of slowing down yet on TOUR.
John Schwarb			D.J. TRAHAN. Enjoying a mini-run of late with three straight cuts made and two top-20s. Shot 62 in the second round of the Travelers, a good sign for what it will take to do well at the John Deere.

Standings after 23 events

LAST WEEK: Mike McAllister jumped over Amanda Balionis for fourth place while Ryan Smithson's lead got just a little smaller. Still almost anyone's game in Sleepers.
Position	Name	Wins	Top-5s	Top-10s	Top-25s	FedExCup points
1	Ryan Smithson Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	0	4	5	10	1104.01
2	Lauren Deason Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM	1	2	3	5	1035.28
3	Brian Wacker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	0	1	6	8	752.77
4	Mike McAllister Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM	0	2	2	6	734.90
5*	Amanda Balionis Host, PGA TOUR Today	0	2	3	7	730.90
6	John Schwarb Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	0	2	2	7	669.10
7	Anne Szeker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	0	1	3	4	641.41
8	Helen Ross Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM	0	0	1	9	624.33
9	John Swantek Host, On The Tee	0	0	1	3	376.94
10	Chris Dunham Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM	0	2	2	3	319.34