Expert Picks: Puerto Rico Open (PGATOUR.com)

March 9, 2010

While 68 players tee it up at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship, 132 golfers will play in the Puerto Rico Open presented by Banco Popular. Here’s how the PGATOUR.COM experts—including the newest member of our editorial team, producer Anne Szeker—size up the top contenders. Since Anne is the new kid on the block, we’re giving her the honor of the first pick this week.

EXPERT PICKSHow 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.MORE PUERTO RICO OPEN: Power Rankings | Inside the Field | Inside the courseMORE EXPERT PICKS: World Golf Championships-CA Championship Expert picks: Puerto Rico Open presented by Banco Popular Expert Pick order Player selected AnneSzeker JOE OGILVIE. With most of the big names at Doral this week, there isn’t really an easy pick in Puerto Rico. I’ll go with Ogilvie. He carded consecutive 66s to briefly lead in Phoenix (ended up T8), and finished T26 at last week’s tough Honda Classic. LaurenDeason RORY SABBATINI. After a runner-up showing at the season-opening SBS Championship, he’s been pretty quiet. The five-time PGA TOUR winner is the highest ranked player in the FedExCup standings in the field this week, though, and I expect him to win. If Deason had the top pick … Sabbatini RyanSmithson ALEX PRUGH. The big reason this rookie has already racked up three top-10s this year? He’s 15th in total driving. Actually, Prugh’s in the top 100 in every statistical catagory … except nose hair. If Smithson had the top pick … Prugh HelenRoss JEEV M. SINGH. A year ago, he finished fourth at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship. Now a PGA TOUR member, let’s see if Singh can make some noise at the Puerto Rico Open. If Ross had the top pick … Singh JohnSwantek JOHN MERRICK. Record this year is nothing special (one top-25 in 7 events), but the southern Californian really comes alive in these alternate events, including finishes of 13th and 6th the last two years in Puerto Rico. If Swantek had the top pick … Merrick BrianWacker JOE DURANT. He was second at the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico three weeks ago and finished in a tie for ninth in Puerto Rico a year ago. I like that track record and his chances in this field. If Wacker had the top pick … Durant NickZaccardi KEVIN STADLER. Stadler could be on his way to his first $1 million season with two top-10s and three top-25s in five events so far. He also owns solid history in Puerto Rico (T44, T4). If Zaccardi had the top pick … Sabbatini MikeMcAllister BRYCE MOLDER. Hard to ignore his last two starts—a tie for 10th at Pebble Beach and a tie for eighth at TPC Scottsdale. Also hard to ignore the fact he’s averaged more than four birdies a round in his last 12 rounds on TOUR. If McAllister had the top pick … J. Singh Standings after Week 9 LAST WEEK: Nick Zaccardi grabbed the top spot from Brian Wacker when Lee Westwood tied for ninth at The Honda Classic, while Mike McAllister moved from last into third with Camilo Villegas’ win: Position Name Wins Top-5s Top-10s Top-25s FedExCup points 1 Nick ZaccardiAssociate Site Producer. PGATOUR.COM 1 2 6 7 1008.83 2 Brian WackerSite Producer, PGATOUR.COM 1 4 3 3 988.93 3 Mike McAllisterManaging Editor, PGATOUR.COM 1 1 2 6 766.33 4 Lauren DeasonEditorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM 1 1 1 5 738 5 Ryan SmithsonSite Producer, PGATOUR.COM - 1 2 4 366 6 Helen RossChief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM - - 1 4 293 7 John SwantekHost, PGA TOUR Today - - 1 4 291.83 8* Anne SzekerSite Producer, PGATOUR.COM * – Making her first appearance as an expert