Expert picks: TOUR Championship

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Editor's note: PGATOUR.com has tried to make our experts work a little harder when they make their picks each week. The favorite can be anyone in the field, although Tiger Woods could only be used seven times during the year. Sleepers can't have won in 2008 or had a top 10 in their last five starts. A sleeper can't be ranked in the top 30 in the field, either.

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T.J. Auclair
PGATOUR.COM Interactive Producer
Pick: Anthony Kim
I realize he might be a little fatigued after a great week at the Ryder Cup, but I also think that momentum will carry into THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola for Anthony Kim. Kim was a superstar for the U.S. team in their first Ryder Cup win in nine years at Valhalla. He dominated Sergio Garcia in a singles match on Sunday and few players -- maybe only Vijay Singh and Padraig Harrington -- have played better lately than Kim. He'll win for the third time this year on Sunday at East Lake.

Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.COM Editorial Coordinator
Pick: K.J. Choi
To make my pick this week, I borrowed the process of elimination concept that we use to deduce who will win at major championships. Elimination No. 1: The Ryder Cup players will all be worn out from that emotionally and physically exhaustive week -- and the Americans will probably be tuckered from all that partying -- so that's 11 players right off the bat. Any player who hasn't finished inside the top-10 in a Playoff event -- that'd be Allenby, Appleby, Baird, Imada, Immelman, Mayfair, Pettersson, Romero and Watson -- are out because you've gotta be hot heading into the final event. Because no player other than Tiger Woods has ever won THE TOUR Championship twice -- and, let's face it, only Tiger doesn't let things like history or records get in his way -- that eliminates former winners Vijay Singh and Mike Weir. Lastly, I'm taking out any player who hasn't won this year (Clark, Duke, Hart and Sutherland) and any who've never been to East Lake before (Trahan) so that leaves K.J. Choi, Ernie Els and Camilo Villegas. Out of those three, it's going to be Choi -- he hasn't won since the second tournament of the season and he's ready for another win in a big-time, elite-field event.

Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Anthony Kim
The smartest choice is Vijay, but he's already got the FedExCup locked. Next? Furyk. But I'm going with the fearless one: AK's on a roll and will keep it up. It doesn't matter that this is his first TOUR Championship.

John Maginnes
PGATOUR.COM Contributor
Pick: Vijay Singh
If he can manage to sign a correct scorecard four days in a row Vijay will win the FedExCup. He knows that and has had two weeks to celebrate. But Vijay has never been one to take it easy. With a large chunk of the field suffering from a Ryder Cup hangover Vijay should be rested and ready. Why not make it three out of four?

Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Vijay Singh
I think the Big Fijian would like to prove his mettle, rather than coast through 72 holes to claim the Cup. He has had success at East Lake before. He has to be in a great frame of mind coming in.

Win McMurry
Host, PGA TOUR Today
Pick: Anthony Kim
Kim took down Sergio Garcia, 5&4 on Sunday in Kentucky. I'll take his chances down in Atlanta as well.

Scott Pianowski
The Fantasy Insider
Pick: Jim Furyk
He's hit the ball beautifully for three months now, but the 2008 win still eludes him. Even as it feels like chasing a little bit, I'm dialing up the dependable, consistent Furyk one more time. He just needs a break on a Sunday, for a change.

Helen Ross
PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
Pick: Vijay Singh
He's motivated, rested and he has history here. Need I say more? Yes, he's already won the FedExCup, but Singh isn't the type to mail it in. He had a six-week plan that ends at THE TOUR Championship and another win would certainly put an exclamation point on his season. Not to mention, he's got one win at East Lake and hasn't finished out of the top 10 here.

Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.COM Senior Correspondent
Pick: Jim Furyk
Yes, Vijay Singh is rested and Furyk is a bit tired after the Ryder Cup, so this is definitely more of a long shot in the favorite category than you'd normally see. But Furyk dearly wants to qualify for the Mercedes-Benz Championship at Kapalua Resort, and his putting, a bane all year, really, came around at Valhalla Golf Club. If there's anything left in the tank, he could surprise Singh, his Ponte Vedra neighbor.

John Swantek
PGA TOUR Productions Fantasy Insider
Picks: Camilo Villegas
Can he win the FedExCup? Not unless Vijay gets lost on the way to East Lake. Yet, Villegas has 3 million reasons to win the tournament and finish second in the overall points standings. Playoffs are all about who's hot and who's motivated. (See; 2007 New York Giants) The Columbian sensation is both and is not content with winning merely one playoff event.