Playoff Picks: Who'll hoist the FedExCup?

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Editor's note: The second edition of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup is upon us. Before the first ball is struck, our panel of experts give us their pick for the player who will be hoisting the Cup next month after THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola.

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T.J. Auclair
PGATOUR.COM Interactive Producer
Pick: Anthony Kim
Kenny Perry and Padraig Harrington aside, no player has stepped up his game in Tiger's absence quite like Anthony Kim. In just his second season on the PGA TOUR, Kim has six top-10 finishes, highlighted by two wins. While Perry would surely love to win the FedExCup, he made it abundantly clear that his primary goal for the 2008 season was to make the U.S. Ryder Cup team. Mission accomplished. Of course, Perry isn't going to simply lay down now that he's achieved his goal, but, his teammate in September -- Kim -- plays with the kind of intensity and enthusiasm that's reminiscent of Woods and, as we learned last year, that's hard to overcome in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup.

Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.COM Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Padraig Harrington
You know, I didn't pick Harrington in the last two majors and he made me look like a fool both times. That's why my vote goes to the Irishman -- no one is playing better golf against the toughest fields. Why should that stop when he makes it to the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup? He won The Barclays in 2005 and was runner-up in 2004, though it is at a different course this season. Harrington's also never finished outside the top 15 at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola. He's fourth in the FedExCup standings right now but, if he plays in all four events, I think he'll end up No. 1.

Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Padraig Harrington
No one's playing better. He's not the one we all expected to see stepping up in Tiger's absence, but he's blowing away the competition. It's hard to imagine that he would slow down now.

Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Anthony Kim
I think Kenny Perry's had his run and Phil Mickelson basically is uninterested. So why not go with a youngster eager to follow in the mammoth footsteps of a player -- Tiger Woods -- he grew up admiring? Think of the juicy storylines at the beginning of 2009 should Kim come through in the postseason. He also would give everyone something to think about when it comes to a potential rival for the world's No. 1.

John Maginnes
PGATOUR.COM Contributor
Pick: Phil Mickelson
Mickelson will be the overwhelming favorite at the second Pllayoff event, where he outdueled Tiger Woods to win the Deutche Bank Championship a year ago. Of course, Tiger went on to win the FedExCup a year ago with victories in the last two events but he won't be part of the mix this year. When you consider that Mickelson, for all of his accomplishments has never been the PGA TOUR Player of the Year and in 1992 wasn't even the Rookie of the Year, it seems like winning one of the coveted year-end prizes has to be on his radar.

Win McMurry
Host, PGA TOUR Today
Pick: Phil Mickelson
With Tiger out, Mickelson will be the one to cash in the $10 million. I think Anthony Kim will put up a tough fight, but ultimately Lefty is going to be the one holding the FedExCup at East Lake.

Scott Pianowski
The Fantasy Insider
Pick: Jim Furyk
Furyk has a grinder's mentality, a straight driver, steely nerves on the greens, and experience in FedExCup commercials. I'm sold.

Helen Ross
PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
Pick: Padraig Harrington
I can't get past that steely look of determination in Harrington's eyes on Sunday at Oakland Hills. He'll be somewhat rested after a vacation in North Carolina and he's certainly highly motivated with two Cups on the horizon. If those two majors don't convince the Player of the Year voters, maybe the FedExCup will.

Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.COM Senior Correspondent
Pick: Phil Mickelson
The course rotation in the Playoffs sets up well for Lefty. This salvage operation will soothe his major misses this year.

John Swantek
PGA TOUR Productions Fantasy Insider
Pick: Anthony Kim
I think Phil Mickelson is motivated, but I'm not certain if he'll play all four playoff events. That leaves an opening with the points being reset so closely and Kim will step through with his typical swagger. The next six weeks, including his first Ryder Cup, will define the 23 year old's season. Two victories already make it special. The FedExCup would elevate Kim to an elite level that he's right on the cusp of. He's not afraid of the challenge.