Jun. 30, 2010
The PGA TOUR travels to Newtown Square, Pennsylvania for the AT&T National this week. Here's how the PGATOUR.COM experts sized up the top contenders at Aronimink Golf Club:
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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: AT&T National |
Ryan
Smithson |
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TIGER WOODS. If anyone claims they wouldn't have taken him first...well, let's just say I wouldn't really believe them. His swing looked much better (more on-plane) at Pebble Beach. He'll get the putter going eventually.
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Anne
Szeker |
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 | RICKIE FOWLER. He has good memories of the Philly area from his Walker Cup win in 2009, and he's playing well right now. Fifth in GIR, 12th in total driving, five top-10 finishes this year. 'It's only a matter of time...'
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| If Szeker had the top pick ... Fowler |
Brian
Wacker |
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BEN CRANE. Four of his last five finishes have been in the top 12 and there aren't really any weaknesses in his game--he hits it straight, finds a lot of greens and is a good putter. He's looking for his second win on TOUR this season, and this could be it.
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| If Wacker had the top pick ... Crane |
Lauren
Deason |
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JIM FURYK. It was a tough choice between two Pennsylvania boys--Furyk and Sean O'Hair (a member at Aronimink). But Furyk got the nod because he's having a better season, with two early wins and three top-16 finishes in his last five starts.
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| If Deason had the top pick ... Furyk |
John
Swantek |
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RICKY BARNES. Going with the hot hand: three top-7 finishes in his last four starts, rising to 23rd in the FedExCup standings. He's also 13th in par-4 scoring, which will be key on this week's par-70 layout at Aronimink. The better pick of the two Rickies this week. |
| If Swantek had the top pick ... Furyk |
Helen
Ross |
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SEAN O'HAIR. His tie for 12th at the U.S. Open--his third such finish in his last four starts--could have been much better had it not been for that opening 76. Look for the Pennsylvania transplant to have a good week with the support of the home fans.
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| If Ross had the top pick ... Crane |
Mike
McAllister |
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SCOTT VERPLANK. Maybe I'm a week too late on this, but I'm hoping Verplank will continue his hot play coming off the playoff loss at the Travelers. Outside of a T47 at the U.S. Open, he's finished T13 or better in his last four non-major starts.
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| If McAllister had the top pick ... Fowler |
Casey
Black |
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JUSTIN ROSE. Despite his collapse last week--he had a 3-shot lead heading into final round--Rose can play. He's already won on TOUR this season and says the pressure is off. After last week, he should be rearing to go for a run at another title.
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| If Black had the top pick ... Rose |
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| Standings after Week 26 |
LAST WEEK: Casey Black (Ricky Barnes) and Mike McAllister (Padraig Harrington) earned top-5 points, but despite a MC by Hunter Mahan, Ryan Smithson is still holding strong at No. 1.
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| Position |
Name |
Wins |
Top-5s |
Top-10s |
Top-25s |
FedExCup points |
| 1 |
Ryan Smithson
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
5 |
6 |
9 |
13 |
3280.83 |
| 2 |
Brian Wacker
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
1825.93 |
| 3 |
Helen Ross
Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
2 |
5 |
10 |
1699.98 |
| 4 |
Mike McAllister
Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
3 |
7 |
11 |
1532.74 |
| 5 |
Lauren Deason
Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM |
1 |
2 |
3 |
12 |
1423.72 |
| 6 |
John Swantek
Host, On The Tee |
1 |
1 |
2 |
9 |
1304.83 |
| 7* |
Anne Szeker
Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM |
- |
3 |
3 |
5 |
643.66 |
| 8* |
Casey Black
Host, PGA TOUR Today |
- |
3 |
2 |
2 |
522.75 |
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