Sleeper Picks: AT&T National

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Editor's note: PGATOUR.com has tried to make our experts work a little harder when they make their picks each week. The favorite can be anyone in the field, although Tiger Woods can only be used seven times during the year. Sleepers can't have won in 2008 or had a top-10 in their last five starts. A sleeper can't be ranked in the top 30 in the field, either.

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T.J. Auclair
PGATOUR.com Interactive Producer
Pick: Peter Lonard
The Aussie's best finish in 2008 was a sole second in New Orleans. Other than that and a tie for seventh in Cancun, Lonard has spent most of 2008 fighting injuries. He might be finding his groove now though, as this will be his third start in as many weeks and he's made the cut in his two others.

Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.com Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Fred Funk
He's a sentimental favorite. Funk attended the University of Maryland in the late 1970s and coached the golf team from 1982-88. He's over age 50 but certainly not off the PGA TOUR map, as Funk won the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun just last year. He recently had knee surgery -- just like this week's tournament host -- and returned a few weeks ago at the Stanford St. Jude Championship. Funk has missed two cuts in his three post-surgery starts but also tied for 37th at the Travelers Championship. I think he's still got several good finishes left in him and what better place than Washington, D.C. to thrill his loyal "Funk's Punks" following?

Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.com Correspondent
Pick: Jason Gore
Rough patch is over now that he's got his thryoid disease under control. Was working on a good season before that -- think top 10 at Pebble -- and he's improved each of the last two weeks. One of Tiger's junior golf buddies, so this -- with TW watching from the couch -- would be the perfect comeback site.

Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.com Correspondent
Pick: Peter Lonard
Don't look for any scientific or statistical reasoning here. The dart hit the strapping Aussie's name.

John Maginnes
PGATOUR.com Contributor
Pick: Charles Warren
Warren is one of the best drivers of the golf ball on the PGA TOUR. Although he hasn't played as well this year as he would have liked, he is coming off a solid top-20 finish at last week's Buick Open. Charles is still one of the best players yet to win on the PGA TOUR. It wouldn't be surprising for his first victory to be a high-profile affair. Look for the Clemson Tiger to continue his good play this week.

Win McMurry
Host, PGA TOUR Today
Pick: Will MacKenzie
Willy Mac is the ultimate sleeper this week. He's coming off injury that's kept him out of the field since the Verizon Heritage, but he kicked off the rust with his first start back last week after a 73-71 at the Buick Open. In the inaugural playing of the AT&T National, MacKenzie made it to the weekend, finishing tied for 54th. But, I think that he has the ability to better that and post his best finish of the 2008 season this week. He's excited to be back on tour and looks motivated--he stayed late into the evening to hit balls in the rain Monday night at Congressional.

Scott Pianowski
The Fantasy Insider
Pick: Davis Love III
He fizzed on the weekend at the U.S. Open, but still he's cashed four checks in a row and we're starting to see signs that a comeback is in order. Love's putter has been steady most of the year; he just needs to fine-tune his ball striking a little bit to be a factor on Sunday.

Helen Ross
PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents
Pick: Stuart Appleby
He's definitely cooled off after a hot start that saw him post top-10s in his first five starts. But the Aussie should get good vibes in returning to a place where he tied for third last year -- and he has a score to settle with Congressional after that 76 in the final round.

Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent
Pick: Stuart Appleby
Appleby led after 54 holes a year ago at Congressional. This year, he needs to complete the deal, something he sorely needs after letting U.S. Open slip away last month.

John Swantek
PGATOUR.com Productions Fantasy Insider
Pick: Steve Elkington
I thought about going with Tiger Woods, who actually qualifies as a sleeper this week if he were to play on crutches. Instead, going with the 45-year-old Elk, inspired by the play of old man Kenny Perry this year. I hear they're on the same diet. This major championship course is perfect for the 1995 PGA Championship winner.