Expert picks: Bridgestone Invitational

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 could 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: Stewart Cink
Cink has a history of playing well at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. In eight starts, he has three top-10 finishes, including a win in 2004 and a runner-up finish in 2006. Furthermore, the Georgia Tech product has been playing outstanding golf this season. Yes, he did miss the cut at the British Open two weeks ago, but that was just his second missed cut of the season to go against seven top-10 finishes in 16 starts.

Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.COM Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Stewart Cink
This one's a no brainer. Cink finished second at Firestone in 2006 and won there in 2004. Since Tiger Woods won't be able to inflict his usual domination on the field at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, it's up to Cink to take advantage and move up even higher in the FedExCup race.

Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Stewart Cink
Thought about Geoff Ogilvy, but he doesn't have a good record at Firestone. Cink's won here before and he's playing too well not to have something good happen.

Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Justin Rose
Rose has history here with a tie for second in 2007. It's about time he breaks through in the United States, especially with Tiger not playing in his annual annuity event.

John Maginnes
PGATOUR.COM Contributor
Pick: Anthony Kim
No player has ever won at Quail Hollow, Congressional and Firestone in the same year but that may change. Yeah, I know that the AT&T National has only been played at Congressional for two years but it still sounded like a cool fact. Everything about Kim's game these days is impressive. He hasn't let his success go to his head. Coming off a disappointing Sunday in Canada he might just be motivated enough to blow away the field. Again. Dusting the field off a week after a disappointment --sound like anyone else we know?

Win McMurry
Host, PGA TOUR Today
Pick: Jim Furyk
In eight starts at Firestone, Furyk has six top-10s. This is his third in a stretch of four big events in his season. After tying for fifth at the British Open and 14th in defense of his Canadian Open title, Furyk is back in Akron and still hunting his first victory of the season. I still think his game is poised to come together.

Scott Pianowski
The Fantasy Insider
Pick: Stewart Cink
He knows the track well (second in 2006, win in 2004), and very quietly Cink's in the middle of what might become his best season as a pro. If he can bag a couple of biggies down the stretch, he'll enter the Player of the Year discussion.

Helen Ross
PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
Pick: Stewart Cink
Stewart Cink has been nothing if not consistent this year. Sure, he's coming to Akron after a missed cut at the Open Championship (only his second in 16 starts) but Cink knows Firestone as well as anyone. He's also had success in even years of late -- winning in 2004 and finishing second in '06 -- so the time is right. Plus, he's in the thick of the FedExCup race at No. 4.

Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.COM Senior Correspondent
Pick: Stewart Cink
Gotta feel sorry for Mr. Cink, because this year, after such a stellar 2007, the TOUR Insider is just poison. So he's got to buck a trend as well as beat a top-notch field. But Cink won at Firestone South in 2004, and despite a difficult week at the British Open, we think his overall fine record in 2008 suggests he'll have a good week in Ohio.

John Swantek
PGA TOUR Productions Fantasy Insider
Pick: Stewart Cink
He'll hear this a lot this week -- he was the last man not named Tiger to win the event, back in 2004. Even if he was named Tiger -- Tiger Cink? -- not nearly as cool. Quirky fact of the week: All five of Cink's TOUR victories have come the week after a major championship. This week, he reverses the trend, winning the week before a major. Stu for two in Akron.