Feb. 4, 2009
The PGA TOUR returns to Torrey Pines -- site of Tiger Woods' miraculous 2008 U.S. Open win, of course -- for the Buick Invitational. Here's who the PGATOUR.COM experts selected as sleeper picks:
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SLEEPER PICKS How it works: Our 10 experts from PGATOUR.COM select any player who isn't ranked in the top 20 of the FedExCup rankings, the top 30 of the Official World Golf Rankings and hasn't won that season. By using a draft process, no two picks can be the same. EXPERT PICKS Who do our experts think will capture the Buick Invitational title? Here's who they've picked to win. Click here MORE: Click here for Nationwide Tour expert picks and sleepers. |
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| Sleeper picks: Buick Invitational |
Win McMurry |
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LUKE DONALD. In five appearances at Torrey, he has three top-10s. He's also making his third start of the season, with two top-25s so far. And last year in his third start, he finished runner-up at The Honda Classic -- Donald knows how to get off to a quick start. |
John Swantek |
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CHARLES HOWELL III. Runner-up to Tiger at Torrey in '05 and '07. Maybe the 18 extra pounds of muscle this year will put him over the top this time. |
Ceri Mobley |
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BUBBA WATSON. In case you didn't know, this guy doesn't hit like a girl, despite his pink driver. He's also in Tiger's good graces so maybe he knows a secret or too about Torrey. |
Ryan Smithson |
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HUNTER MAHAN. He's going to do well even if he plays the tournament in a Snuggie. Which isn't a bad idea actually. Cool weather is expected to roll in later this week. |
Brian Wacker |
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JOHN MERRICK. I really like what I saw from this kid at the Bob Hope Classic two weeks ago. He's got the moxie and the game to win out here. He just needs to put it all together. |
Mark Spoor |
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COLT KNOST. After missing the cut at the Sony Open, Knost tied for 25th at the 50th Bob Hope Classic hosted by Arnold Palmer. The learning curve may continue to go up.
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Helen Ross |
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CARL PETTERSSON. Call it a hunch, but I think the self-proclaimed Swedish redneck will play well. He tied for 25th in Phoenix, and he has the patience and perseverance to prosper in difficult conditions like the ones forecast for the first three rounds. |
Mike McAllister |
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RYUJI IMADA. His 67 on Sunday last year was the low round at Torrey Pines that day and allowed him to finish second. Of course, he was eight strokes behind Tiger. That won't be an issue this week. |
Lauren Deason |
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BILL HAAS. He's finished inside the top 30 in three of four years at the Buick Invitational. Plus, his dad Jay Haas won this event in 1978 for his first title on the TOUR. Could Torrey Pines be the site of Bill's maiden victory too? |
T.J. Auclair |
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RETIEF GOOSEN. Believe it or not, this is Goosen's first start in the Buick Invitational. He tied for 14th at Torrey Pines in the U.S. Open and must have found something he liked. |
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LAST WEEK: Ryan Smithson's sleeper pick Brian Gay tied for sixth at the FBR Open, which gave him the week's best finish. Each week, we'll update the standings based on the FedExCup points accumulated by the players selected by our experts. Here's how it stands after Week 4:
| Standings after Week 4 |
| 1 |
Helen Ross Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM |
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1 |
1 |
1 |
395.5 |
| 2 |
Brian Wacker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
- |
- |
2 |
211.60 |
| 3 |
Mike McAllister Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
1 |
1 |
1 |
181.25 |
| 4 |
Mark Spoor Coordinating Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
168.5 |
| 5 |
Ryan Smithson Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
- |
1 |
1 |
167.25 |
| 6 |
John Swantek Fantasy Insider, PGA TOUR Productions |
- |
- |
- |
2 |
137 |
| 7 |
Win McMurry Host, PGA TOUR Today |
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- |
- |
1 |
96 |
| 8 |
Ceri Mobley Associate Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
63 |
| 9 |
T.J. Auclair Interactive Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
52.99 |
| 10 |
Lauren Deason Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
52 |
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