Expert Picks: Bob Hope Classic

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Jan. 19, 2010

The Bob Hope Classic is the first event in the continental U.S. after the TOUR spent two weeks in Hawaii. Here's how the PGATOUR.COM experts sized up the top contenders:

EXPERT PICKS
How it works: Our 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. The player who wins the previous week picks last the following week.
SLEEPER PICKS
Of the players who didn't make the cut for our top picks, which have the best chance as sleepers? Here's how our experts see it. Click here
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Expert picks: Bob Hope Classic

Expert	Pick order	Player selected
Nick Zaccardi			MIKE WEIR. I like that the Canadian is starting his 2010 PGA TOUR season at the Bob Hope Classic, where he won in 2003. He did the same thing last year and finished third, so this was a no-brainer.

John Swantek			CHAD CAMPBELL. He's motivated to win after two playoff losses last year and looked sharp in a T8 finish at the Sony Open last week. Campbell understands you must take it deep at the Hope, which he captured in 2006.
If Swantek the top pick ... Weir
Helen Ross			JOHN SENDEN. The Aussie hits a ton of greens and should have plenty of opportunities for birdies. He tied for ninth in Palm Springs last year and was fifth in 2006 and sixth in '05 so he's not afraid to go low.
If Ross had the top pick ... Weir
Lauren Deason			JUSTIN LEONARD. After barely missing last week's cut, the Texan "punished" himself by practicing through the Dallas Cowboys Playoff game. He's clearly serious about doing well this week, especially at an event he won in '05 and finished second in '08.
If Deason had the top pick ... Weir
Mike McAllister			CHARLEY HOFFMAN. In 15 career rounds at the Bob Hope Classic, he's a collective 60 under. He won here in 2007 and he annually starts out strong in his native Southern California.
If McAllister had the top pick ... Weir
Brian Wacker			TIM CLARK. It's sort of amazing that Clark fell this far. That's what happens when you go 196 starts without a victory, though. That drought will end sometime and with his ability to take it low, I'm hoping it ends this week.
If Wacker had the top pick ... Weir
Ryan Smithson			BRIAN GAY. Gay finished 24 under last year ... and tied for a dramatic 19th. I think he can get some putts to drop this week. I am still shocked Stephen Ames, who finished tied for fifth here in 2009, decided not to play.
If Smithson had the top pick ... Weir

Standings after Week 2

LAST WEEK: Brian Wacker earned another top-5 finish with Retief Goosen's solo fourth last week, while Ryan Smithson moved up in the standings thanks to Steve Stricker's third-place finish:
Position	Name	Wins	Top-5s	Top-10s	Top-25s	FedExCup points
1	Brian Wacker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	1	2	2	2	635
2	Ryan Smithson Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	-	1	2	2	258
3	Nick Zaccardi Associate Site Producer. PGATOUR.COM	-	1	1	1	123
4	Mike McAllister Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	-	2	114.5
5	Lauren Deason Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	-	2	112.5
6	Helen Ross Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	-	1	87.5
7	John Swantek Host, PGA TOUR Today	-	-	-	1	80