Expert picks: Viking Classic

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Oct. 28, 2009

The fourth tournament of the Fall Series is the VIking Classic held at Annandale Golf Club in Madison, Miss. Here's how the PGATOUR.COM experts sized up the top contenders:

EXPERT PICKS
How it works: Our 10 experts from PGATOUR.COM select the player they think will win this week's event. By using a draft process, no two picks can be the same.

Expert picks: Viking Classic

Expert	Pick order	Player selected
Lauren Deason			DAVID TOMS. Mr. Consistent on the PGA TOUR, Toms has racked up seven top-10s, including three runner-up finishes. The Louisiana native loves the Deep South and should excel in Madison, Miss., where he tied for eighth last year.

John Swantek			CHAD CAMPBELL. The 2007 champion in Madison erases the sting of two playoff losses this year, including one in the Fall Series, returning to the winner's circle where he last lifted a trophy.
If Swantek had the top pick ... Campbell
Win McMurry			MICHAEL SIM. After dominating the Nationwide Tour all season and finishing runner-up at last week's Nationwide Tour Championship, Sim is anxious to be a part of the conversation that Rickie Fowler and Jamie Lovemark started last week.
If McMurry had the top pick ... Toms
Helen Ross			HEATH SLOCUM. He's a former champion at Annandale Golf Club, and he's coming off a tie for eighth last week at the Frys.com Open. Could this be The Barclays champ's first two-win season?
If Ross had the top pick ... Toms
Mike McAllister			BRANDT SNEDEKER. In his 24 rounds on TOUR since missing the cut at the PGA Championship, Sneds has finished par or better 21 times, and he was 13 under in his last start in Vegas. A win this week would help eliminate any lingering Cog Hill demons.
If McAllister had the top pick ... Campbell
Brian Wacker			RICKIE FOWLER. I should have taken him last week like I thought about doing. Here's hoping he can keep the momentum going. Fowler hits it a mile (and pretty straight) and is a very good putter. What's not to like about that?
If Wacker had the top pick ... Toms
Mark Spoor			BILL HAAS. As Ryan Smithson pointed out in Power Rankings earlier this week, Haas has finished in the top five in each of the past two Viking Classics. Plus, Haas has four top-10 finishes this year, and two of those came in his last six TOUR starts.
If Spoor had the top pick ... Toms
T.J. Auclair			TROY MATTESON. I'll happily snag the hot hand at No. 8. Matteson shot consecutive 61s on his way to victory last week. In two starts at the Viking Classic, Matteson has two top-15s. Since Annandale is another go-low venue, I think the birdies will keep falling.
If Auclair had the top pick ... Toms
Ceri Mobley			TOM PERNICE JR. Yes, I am taking a Champions Tour-eligible player, but guess what? He won in his first Champions start. He also has a solid history at Annandale (two top-15s), and he has tied for seventh and 13th the last two weeks. Why not?
If Mobley had the top pick ... Sim
Ryan Smithson			ROCCO MEDIATE. I figured I would have Pernice or Matteson to use with the final pick this week, but no dice. I am hoping Rocco can keep up the birdies from last week, when he tied for 13th after a Sunday 65.
If Smithson had the top pick ... Campbell

LAST WEEK: Lauren Deason jumped from sixth to first when her pick, Rickie Fowler, tied for second at the Frys.com Open.

Fall Series picks standings after the Frys.com Open

Pos.	Expert	Wins	Top 5s	Top 10s	Top 25s	Money earned
1	Lauren Deason Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM	-	1	1	1	$514,540
2	Win McMurry Host, PGA TOUR Today	-	1	2	3	$484,550
3	John Swantek Fantasy Insider, PGA TOUR Productions	-	1	2	2	$399,528.57
4	Helen Ross Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	2	2	$248,700
5	Brian Wacker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	1	2	$191,800
6	Mike McAllister Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	-	2	$182,570.91
7	Ryan Smithson Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	-	1	$71,400
8	Mark Spoor Coordinating Producer, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	-	-	$33,725
9	Ceri Mobley Associate Producer, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	-	1	$29,904
10	T.J. Auclair Interactive Producer, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	-	-	$13,620