Mid-Year Roundtable: Rookie of the year

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Editor's note: The PGA TOUR has reached the midway point of the regular season this week at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship. Here's who our PGATOUR.COM panel of experts thinks has the early lead in the Rookie of the Year race.

• Other Picks: Comeback player of the year | Player of the year
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T.J. Auclair
PGATOUR.COM Interactive Producer
Pick: Matthew Jones
• Jones' 2007 PGA TOUR results
The young Aussie has made the cut in 10 of his first 11 starts in the 2008 season. On top of that, he's recorded four top-25 finishes, highlighted by a tie for fourth at The Honda Classic. That's heady stuff for a rookie. It's not often that a first-year player is the model of consistency and it's impressive when you consider Jones is playing many of these courses for the first time, which means he has no past knowledge to fall back on. All of that will work wonders for him in the future.

Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.COM Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Matthew Jones
• Jones' 2007 PGA TOUR stats
It came down to Matt Jones or Dustin Johnson but I ended up picking Jones. The Nationwide Tour grad has missed just one cut this season -- especially impressive when you consider he's played in 11 tournaments. Jones tied for fourth at The Honda Classic and was in the hunt for the title all week before the final few holes.

Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Dustin Johnson
• Johnson's 2007 PGA TOUR results
In my mind, it's a close battle between Dustin Johnson and Jason Day. Both have played really well or missed cuts. But three early top-12s in Hawaii and on the West Coast gives Johnson my vote.

Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Jason Day
• Day's 2007 PGA TOUR results
He has two top-10s in 10 starts. Don't be surprised if he's in the winner's circle before the end of the year.

John Maginnes
XM Satellite Radio
Pick: Jason Day
• Day's 2007 PGA TOUR Stats
I don't think that we have come close to seeing the full potential of Jason Day this year. The talented young Aussie started the year injured and has taken a while to get on track. But the second half of the season is filled with long golf courses that favor someone who can hit it a country mile. Look for great things out of Jason this summer.

Helen Ross
PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
PIck: Tim Wilkinson
• Wilkinson's 2007 PGA TOUR results
A case can be made for any of these four candidates -- Tim Wilkinson, Matt Jones, Jason Day and Dustin Johnson. Each has won between $400,000-600,000, which is a pretty good nest egg for a rookie. Wilkinson, though, has been among the most consistent and he has a pair of top-10s in his last six starts so I'll pick the diminutive New Zealander.

Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.COM Senior Correspondent
Pick: Tim Wilkinson
• Wilkinson's 2007 PGA TOUR stats
The New Zealander has simply made his points; he ranks 49th on the FedExCup list thanks to a pair of top-10s, including third at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The floor is open for other contenders down the road.