Expert Picks: EDS Byron Nelson Championship

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T.J. Auclair
PGATOUR.COM Interactive Producer
Pick: Justin Leonard
This is a home game for Leonard, a Dallas native, and he'd love nothing more than to win the tournament that bears the name of a Texas golf legend. Leonard has raised his game back to the level it was at in the late 90s when he captured a British Open, a PLAYERS Championship and holed the most memorable putt in Ryder Cup history. He hasn't missed a single cut in 11 starts this year and has four top-10s to show for his efforts. He won late in the year in 2007, taking the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio. I'm expecting big things from Leonard in his home town this week.

Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.COM Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Luke Donald
The Englishman was thisclose to a victory at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship last season, falling short by one stroke to Scott Verplank. Prior to the renovations at TPC Las Colinas, Donald was the epitome of a horse for this course -- the last time he fired a round in the 70s at the venue was 2004. This year's also been kind to Donald so far. He's amassed two finishes inside the top three (including a second at The Honda Classic) and he hasn't finished outside the top 20 after making the cut.

Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Adam Scott
So tempting to go with Luke Donald. Or Texan Justin Leonard. Or defending champ Scott Verplank. But Scott's opening 63 in Houston keeps sticking in my mind. He's recovered from strep throat, survived Augusta and ... he's starting the run-up to Torrey. He tied for third here two years ago.

John Maginnes
PGATOUR.COM Contributor
Pick: Justin Leonard
Considering that no one had seen the golf course before Monday, I think that you have to go with guys who have been playing well lately. Throw in a little hometown, or at least home-state advantage and Justin Leonard seems like a pretty good pick this week. He has had a solid year without missing a cut. Top-20 finishes at the Masters and the Verizon Heritage indicate that Justin's game is back on the upswing. Longhorns love Texas -- and Texas loves its longhorns.

Win McMurry
Host, PGA TOUR Today
Pick: Justin Leonard
The Dallas native holds a share of the course record 61 at TPC Four Seasons/Los Colinas. Leonard has three top-fives from the West Coast Swing and has gotten his game back in form recently as evident by his tie for 20th at the Masters and a tie for 17th in Hilton Head. Leonard's last win was in his home state-- the 2007 Valero Texas Open. I think the move back out west might be the ticket for him to take home another trophy.

Scott Pianowski
PGATOUR.COM Fantasy Insider
Pick: Rory Sabbatini
He's made five straight cuts here, including a third-place run last season, and while his 2008 results don't jump out at you, his only missed cut came at the Masters. He's got a history of playing well in Texas, and let's call for another healthy check this week.

Helen Ross
PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
PIck: Luke Donald
Second a year ago, Donald has not finished lower than 19th at the TPC Los Colinas in the five years since missing the cut in his 2002 debut. The talented young Englishman is playing well, too, with a tie for third at the NorthernTrust Open and solo second at The Honda Classic.

Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.COM Senior Correspondent
Pick: Luke Donald
The talented Englishman has posted 12 straight rounds in the 60s in this event, and he held the 54-hole lead a year ago before finishing second to Scott Verplank, giving him consecutive top-10 finishes and five consecutive years placing 19th or better.

John Swantek
PGA TOUR Productions Fantasy Insider
Pick: Sergio Garcia
Please overlook the fact that he carried two putters in his bag earlier this year and instead consider this; he's been working with putting guru, Stan Utley. Now, if Sergio had been working with merely a putting expert or even a putting maven, I wouldn't be so confident. But a putting guru? I'm sold.

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