Sleeper Picks: World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational
 
Aug. 1, 2007

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Which player could win at this weekend's World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational? Our experts weigh in:

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T.J. Auclair
PGATOUR.com Interactive Producer
Pick: Darren Clarke
This season has been quite a struggle for Clarke and understandably so. August 13 will mark the one-year anniversary of the death of his wife, Heather, who lost a hard-fought battle to cancer. Perhaps because of that, Clarke could play some of that inspired golf that helped the Europeans win their third consecutive Ryder Cup last September. Also, Clarke has won the Bridgestone Invitational before.

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Brett Avery
The Fantasy Insider
PGATOUR.com Contributor
Pick: Mike Weir
TFI likes him for the same reasons he did last week in the Canadian Open presented by Franklin Templeton Investments: he's pulling his game back together (ties for eighth in the AT&T National and Open Championship). He hasn't done much in the World Golf Championships events recently, but he looks more comfortable over the ball (especially this week, now that his countrymen aren't dissecting his every move at Angus Glen).

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Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.com Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Robert Allenby
Robert Allenby is a solid sleeper pick this week for two reasons: 1. he has traditionally fared well in the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, earning three straight top-10s from 2002-04 and tying for 22nd in 2006; and 2. when he has made the cut in 2007 (which Allenby will obviously do this week since there's not one), Allenby has finished well. In the 13 cuts he has made out of 18 events, Allenby has seven top-10s, including a tie for sixth at the AT&T National, which featured an elite field much like this week's tournament in Akron, Ohio.

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Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.com Correspondent
Pick: Chris DiMarco
Yes, we know. Stewart Cink, Justin Leonard and Steve Stricker are great choices, but rules are rules. So we're going with the Gator. His last two final rounds have cost him chances to win, but we're figuring he'll get that straightened out. He was second in '05 and tied for sixth in '04.

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Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.com Correspondent
Pick: Paul Casey
He has done little in America, but apparently he likes Firestone as his record there -- he hasn't been worse than tie for 19th in four visits -- attests. He tied for fourth in 2006. All he needs to do is climb three spots -- and over the mountain named Tiger Woods.

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John Maginnes
PGATOUR.com Contributor
Pick: Lee Westwood
Remember Lee Westwood? He is the chubby Englishman that waxes our boys in the Ryder Cup every couple of years but otherwise leaves us pretty well alone. Well, that was the old Lee Westwood. The newer model is not only fit but is perhaps playing the best golf of his career in Europe. It won't be a surprise if he has a good week at Firestone. It will be more of a surprise if he doesn't.

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Helen Ross
PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents
Pick: Davis Love III
Those four missed cuts are an aberration, and a return to Firestone Country Club may be just what Davis Love III needs. He's won more than $1.4 million at the Bridgestone Invitational, and he's had five top-10s, including a tie for fourth last year. This could be the week he turns things around.

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Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent
Pick: Robert Allenby
He's still looking for a victory in 2007 despite a wonderful season. A hot streak early in the year didn't yield a victory and he's cooled off a bit as the summer stretches on, but Firestone hasn't been a bad spot for the resurgent Aussie, who has three top-10s on the South Course, including a runner-up finish in 2002. He needs to find a few more fairways this week to give himself a shot.

Check out how our experts are doing:

How they're doing
Canadian Open presented by Franklin Templeton Investments
PGATOUR.com Experts 1st 2nd 3rd Top 10s Missed Cuts Total FedExCup Points
T.J. Auclair 5 5 3 18 12 50,728
Dave Shedloski 5 4 1 16 10 49,115
Helen Ross 3 4 2 17 9 41,744
Melanie Hauser 5 3 0 14 15 41,344
Dave Lagarde 5 2 1 18 12 41,244
Brett Avery 3 3 2 14 9 36,641
John Maginnes 4 2 0 10 16 31,606
Lauren Deason 2 4 1 12 12 29,746

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