Expert picks: Turning Stone Resort Championship (PGATOUR.com)

September 30, 2009

The first tournament of the Fall Series is the Turning Stone Resort Championship held at Atunyote Golf Club in Verona, N.Y. Here's how the PGATOUR.COM experts sized up the top contenders:

EXPERT PICKSHow 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: Turning Stone Resort Championship Expert Pick order Player selected LaurenDeason DUSTIN JOHNSON. With three top-15s in his last six starts, including a T4 at TPC Boston, he heads to the site of his first TOUR win with momentum. Plus, the big-hitting Johnson won at Pebble Beach this year, so he should excel in the wet, chilly weather in N.Y. T.J.Auclair MICHAEL SIM. This is his first PGA TOUR start since his three-win Nationwide Tour promotion. He's played in two majors this year, highlighted by a T18 at the U.S. Open. He's a star in the making, who put up a good argument for a Presidents Cup Captain's Pick. If Auclair had the top pick … Sim JohnSwantek BRANDT SNEDEKER. Itching to play since the meltdown at the BMW Championship, he'll be motivated to exorcise the demons after the 4-putt on the final hole in Chicago that cost him a spot in THE TOUR Championship. If Swantek had the top pick …Snedeker MikeMcAllister CHARLES HOWELL III. In three of the last four years, Howell has had at least one top-10 finish after Sept. 1, including a tie for third at Turning Stone last year. He didn't make much noise in the Playoffs, but look for him to ramp it up this fall. If McAllister had the top pick … Johnson WinMcMurry RORY SABBATINI. His tie for 18th in his last start (BMW Champ.) shows he's had time to cool down after not making Greg Norman's team. But I think he'll be looking to show the Shark why he should have been picked. If McMurry had the top pick … Johnson CeriMobley BILL HAAS. Once over my disappointment that I couldn't have Michael Sim, I thought about a veteran like Davis Love III. But I settled on Haas, whose worst finish in his last five starts is a T24 and who barely missed out on East Lake. Plus he tied for 10th here in '07. If Mobley had the top pick … Sim RyanSmithson ROBERT ALLENBY. Brandt Snedeker before Allenby? Please. Snedeker does well on courses that require 20 under. This is not one of those weeks. Conversely, Allenby shines on really tough tracks. If Smithson had the top pick … Allenby HelenRoss JOHN ROLLINS. He's a former champ at the Atunyote Golf Club—winning the final B.C. Open presented by the Turning Stone Resort. Rollins also won in Reno last month and made it through three Playoffs events so he should be primed. If Ross had the top pick … Johnson MarkSpoor MARK WILSON. Despite not making the field for THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, Wilson's last start ended with a top-10. Specifically, a tie for 10th at the BMW Championship. Here's hoping the momentum continues. If Spoor had the top pick … Johnson BrianWacker MARC LEISHMAN. He had a nice run through the Playoffs and pretty much wrapped up Rookie of the Year. There's no reason to think he won't continue to play well in the Fall Series, especially at Turning Stone, where his length will be factor. If Wacker had the top pick … Johnson