July 24, 2012
PGA TOUR staff
The PGA TOUR travels to Hamilton Golf & Country Club for the RBC Canadian Open. Here's how the PGATOUR.COM experts sized up the top contenders:
| Expert picks: RBC Canadian Open |
|
Bill
Cooney |  |  | HUNTER MAHAN. Simply put, Mahan is having a splendid season. He's won twice, ranks first in ball-striking, third in greens and fourth in total driving. There's a reason I'm picking first -- so I'll go with the safe play. Mahan's the man. | | | John
Swantek |  |  | ERNIE ELS. I'm not picking Els because he won last week -- but it certainly helps. I'm picking him because nobody on the PGA TOUR has hit the ball better than him this year -- with perhaps the exception of Mahan. | | If Swantek had the top pick ... Els | Brian
Wacker |  |  | JIM FURYK. I'm really surprised Furyk wasn't the top pick this week considering he won this tournament the last time it was held at Hamilton. Even in 2012, the course only stretches to about 7,000 yards -- which is right in Furyk's wheelhouse. | | If Wacker had the top pick ... Furyk | Chris
Dunham |  |  | MATT KUCHAR. Here is a good indication of Kuchar's career turnaround: The last time the PGA TOUR visited this course, he was toiling on the Web.com Tour. This time around, he enters the week as one of the favorites. He's on a roll. | | If Dunham had the top pick ... Kuchar | Anne
Szeker |  |  | BRANDT SNEDEKER. Snedeker should be motivated after his close call at the British Open. He slowed down over the weekend, but still managed at T3 finish. Ranks fifth in Strokes Gained-Putting. | | If Szeker had the top pick ... Snedeker | John
Schwarb |  |  | VIJAY SINGH. The Big Fijian is seven months from turning 50 but is grinding like he's 30, still convinced he can win. And he can. He finished T9 at the British Open and shot a first-round 63 at The Greenbrier two weeks earlier. He just needs four solid rounds. | | If Schwarb had the top pick ... Singh | Ryan
Smithson |  |  | BO VAN PELT. Missed the cut by a couple of shots at the British Open, but he's playing very well ahead of a course that sets up perfectly for him. Tied for 20th at Hamilton G&CC way back in 2006, the last time it was held there. Usually gets hot this time of year. | | If Smithson had the top pick ... Mahan | Amanda
Balionis |  |  | BUD CAULEY. The rookie played great at the True South Classic, finishing his week with a Sunday 66 for a solo fourth. The rookie has three top 10s this season and is knocking on the door for his first victory. | | If Balionis had the top pick ... Snedeker | Mike
McAllister |  |  | SEUNG-YUL NOH. Hard to ignore what the rookie has done in his last 11 starts on TOUR: Seven top-25 finishes and no missed cuts as he's moved to 44th in the FedExCup standings. Also hard to ignore the fact that 16 of his last 20 rounds have been in the 60s. | | If McAllister had the top pick ... Mahan | Lauren
Deason |  |  | SCOTT PIERCY. He's quietly having a good July, finishing T12 at The Greenbrier and third at the John Deere Classic. Piercy, who won for the first time on TOUR last season, is 39th in FedExCup points in 2012. | | If Deason had the top pick ... Snedeker | Helen
Ross |  |  | RYAN PALMER. One of the best ball-strikers on TOUR should thrive on a course built to reward tee-to-green play. Has enjoyed one of the best stretches of his career -- he's finished in the top 10 in four of his last seven starts. Also 19th in Strokes Gained-Putting. | | If Ross had the top pick ... Furyk | |
|
| Standings after 30 events |
LAST WEEK: Helen Ross picked up her first victory by taking Ernie Els with the fifth pick. Meanwhile, Lauren Deason inched closer to Ryan Smithson by taking Adam Scott. Anne Szeker is the only expert yet to tally a victory this season. "I save my best for last," Szeker said. Ah, yes. The FedExCup Playoffs are fast approaching.
| | Position | Name | Wins | Top-5s | Top-10s | Top-25s | MCs | FedExCup points | | 1 | Ryan Smithson
Site Producer | 4 | 11 | 13 | 20 | 3 | 3486.00 | | 2 | Lauren Deason
Editorial Coordinator | 3 | 7 | 9 | 17 | 4 | 3130.49 | | 3 | Helen Ross
Chief of Correspondents | 1 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 6 | 2277.95 | | 4 | Amanda Balionis
Host, PGA TOUR Today | 1 | 7 | 13 | 16 | 8 | 2251.25 | | 5 | Brian Wacker
Site Producer | 2 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 1981.53 | | 6 | John Swantek
Host, On The Tee | 1 | 4 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 1934.90 | | 7 | Mike McAllister
Managing Editor | 1 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 5 | 1826.60 | | 8 | John Schwarb
Site Producer | 1 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 5 | 1741.40 | | 9 | Chris Dunham
Editorial Coordinator | 1 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 3 | 1715.74 | | 10 | Anne Szeker
Site Producer | 0 | 3 | 10 | 16 | 1 | 1464.83 | | 11 | *Bill Cooney
Site Producer | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 757.75 | |
MAKE YOUR PICK: Tell us who you expect to win at Hamilton G&CC
