Expert picks: Children's Miracle Network Classic

text size

Nov. 11, 2009

The Children's Miracle Network Classic wraps up the Fall Series and the 2009 PGA TOUR season. 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: Children's Miracle Network Classic

Expert	Pick order	Player selected
John Swantek			DAVIS LOVE III. Having never finished out of the top 17 in his last seven starts, DL3 has enjoyed his trips to Disney more than a family of four from Chippewa Falls. The defending champion discovers the magic again this week.

Ceri Mobley			RICKIE FOWLER. This was a tough call -- I really should be taking Zach Johnson. But he doesn't have a TOUR card on the line, so I'm betting Rickie will play harder. And Disney would be a fitting place for a player who's still pretty much a kid to win his first title.
If Mobley had the top pick ... Fowler
Lauren Deason			BRANDT SNEDEKER. He's earned seven top-25s in the second half of '09 and recently won the ADT Skills Challenge with Boo Weekley, proving he's regained confidence after his Cog Hill collapse. Plus, he'll likely feel comfortable since his older brother's in the field.
If Deason had the top pick ... Love
Brian Wacker			ZACH JOHNSON. Fourth pick and the best player is still on the board? That's one reason to take Johnson. Another is, as pointed out in Power Rankings, Johnson has shot 15 under four times in '09. You need to go low at Disney, and he's fourth in scoring average.
If Wacker had the top pick ... Love
Mark Spoor			JUSTIN LEONARD. Leonard has two top-20 finishes in his past three TOUR starts, most recently a tie for 13th at the Frys.com Open which included a second-round 64. He's due for a victory. Maybe he can find some magic at Mickey's house.
If Spoor had the top pick ... Johnson
T.J. Auclair			STEPHEN AMES. My initial choice was Steve Marino, but he withdrew Wednesday, so I'll give the nod to Ames, who won here in 2007. Recently, Ames either misses the cut or has a solid week. I'll be pulling for the latter.
If Auclair had the top pick ... Johnson
Mike McAllister			HEATH SLOCUM. In his last four starts in this event, he has finished in the top 10 twice, with 15 rounds (out of 16) under par. Slocum faded in the Playoffs after his Barclays win -- until tying for eighth in his last start at Frys.com.
If McAllister had the top pick ... Johnson
Ryan Smithson			DAVID TOMS. I think people forgot David was in this field. Davis Love III won here last year and it's easy to concieve that his fellow veteran can do the same to end his three-year losing streak on TOUR.
If Smithson had the top pick ... Johnson
Helen Ross			KEVIN STREELMAN. It looks like Streelman, who leads the Kodak Challenge by two shots, will leave the Children's Miracle Network Classic a big winner. With the $1 million bonus all but his, Streelman -- who finished T6 at Disney in '08 -- can focus on getting that first win.
If Ross had the top pick ... Johnson
Win McMurry			BRIAN GAY. After a career year on TOUR, look for him to close 2009 out strong with his third win of the season. He lives in the Sunshine State, so this is a home game for the University of Florida Gator.
If McMurry had the top pick ... Johnson

LAST WEEK: John Swantek passed Lauren Deason for first place as his pick, Phil Mickelson, won the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions.

Fall Series picks standings after the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions

Pos.	Expert	Wins	Top 5s	Top 10s	Top 25s	Money earned
1	John Swantek Fantasy Insider, PGA TOUR Productions	1	2	3	3	$1,599,528.57
2	Lauren Deason Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM	-	1	2	2	$704,540
3	Win McMurry Host, PGA TOUR Today	-	1	2	3	$524,883.33
4	Brian Wacker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	2	3	$339,300
5	Ceri Mobley Associate Producer, PGATOUR.COM	-	1	1	2	$344,904
6	Helen Ross Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	2	2	$289,003.33
7	Mike McAllister Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	-	3	$243,904.24
8	Mark Spoor Coordinating Producer, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	1	1	$133,296.43
9	Ryan Smithson Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	-	1	$116,400
10	T.J. Auclair Interactive Producer, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	1	1	$113,191.43