Sleeper Picks: Sony Open in Hawaii

text size

• Expert Picks: Who may win? | Get in the discussion: Give us your picks

T.J. Auclair
PGATOUR.com Interactive Producer
Pick: Jesper Parnevik
In 13 starts at the Sony Open in Hawaii, Parnevik has only missed the cut three times. This guy is simply due for a win. He came so close toward the end of 2007 when he lost in a playoff to Justin Leonard at the Valero Texas Open. The fact that there was even a playoff there is a testament to the game Parnevik possesses. He was all over the map with the driver, yet hit miraculous shot after miraculous shot before Leonard made a putt. I think the Swede gets off the schnied this week.

Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.com Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Frank Lickliter
Injuries nagged Lickliter for much of 2007 but he exorcised those problems and any lingering doubts with a dominant performance at the PGA TOUR National Qualifying Tournament. Firing back-to-back 62s in the first two rounds, Lickliter took the lead, never looked back and ended up keeping his TOUR card. After that win in early December, he couldn't wait to head to the Sony Open in Hawaii, a tournament he seriously regretted missing last season because of an injury. Will his hot streak carry over from q-school? And can he get redemption early this year after his ho-hum start to 2007? I think so.

Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.com Correspondent
Pick: Mark Calcavecchia
God love him. He texts Tiger that he's dying walking the hills last week and comes up with a top 10. He may be fortysomething, but Calc's still got the game and the touch around the greens. Yes, there's Jonathan Byrd, Jason Gore, Boo-Boo, Chad Campbell and . . . well, all those guys taking their first swings off the tee in '08 who could be right there too.. But we like Calc, gorked shots, rumpled look and all.

Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.com Correspondent
Pick: Bubba Watson
This guy has too much game to remain winless. This is third time around on this track. If he keeps it in the short grass he'll make a good run at his breakthrough victory.

John Maginnes
PGATOUR.com Contributor
Pick: Jerry Kelly
It has been a long time since Jerry Kelly has won on the PGA TOUR. You wouldn't think of a guy who spends his winters in Madison, Wisc. as a potential favorite the first week back. But, Jerry plays well here and is itching to get back to winning form. He has done it here before and this could kick off a great year for Kelly.

Scott Pianowski
The Fantasy Insider
Pick: Pat Perez
He's got five solid checks here over six starts -- perhaps the brief offseason refeshes his game more than others. Just shy of his 32nd birthday, it's about time for Perez to start cashing in on his untapped upside -- I've got a hunch a career year is ready to bust out.

Helen Ross
PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents
Pick: Charles Howell
He tied for second at the Sony Open in Hawaii last year, and he's coming off joint eighth at the Plantation Club on Sunday. Howell seems well-prepared, as he was last year when he won the Nissan Open, and this year could be the start of something big.

Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent
Pick: Charles Howell
New clubs and all he still finished in the top 10 at Kapalua in the Mercedes-Benz Championship, and now he moves on to the Sony Open, where he's finished in the top 4 in three of his six appearances. No reason for him to not make a strong showing again.