Sleeper Picks: Travelers 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 can 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: Brad Faxon
This is the ultimate sleeper pick. Faxon has been out of action on the PGA TOUR since last August because of a foot injury, but he returns to action this week in a tournament that he holds close to his heart. There are only two PGA TOUR events played in New England, and this is one of them. Faxon, a Rhode Islander, won in a playoff at TPC River Highlands in 2005. A win would be a lot to expect from him as he comes back for the first time in nearly a year, but he picked a great week to return on a course he's very familiar with.

Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.com Editorial Coordinator
Pick: David Toms
This is mostly just a gut feeling. But I can back it up with a few stats -- Toms tied for sixth at the Travelers Championship last year, he hasn't missed a cut on the PGA TOUR since early March 2008 and he has been playing at TPC River Highlands since 1992 -- though he took several years off in the early 2000s. The 20-somethings might have taken over 2008, but the grizzled vets over age 40 have held their own (see: Paul Goydos, Kenny Perry, Rocco Mediate). Will we soon add David Toms to that list?

Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.com Correspondent
Pick: Notah Begay III
He's a talented player who's finally healthy. Note, as his buddy the three-time U.S. Open champ says, he just needs a kick start. I can't think of a better place than here. He won here eight years ago and had a top 10 two years ago.

Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.com Correspondent
Pick: Jay Williamson
He caught lightning in a jar as a sponsor's exemption here last year, pushing champion Hunter Mahan into overtime before succumbing. He should have some positive mojo working this week.

John Maginnes
PGATOUR.com Correspondent
Pick: Jay Williamson
I am going back to the well for my dark horse this week. Jay Williamson is playing the TOUR this year because of the incredible playoff loss last year at the Travelers Championship to Hunter Mahan. He hasn't had the kind of follow-up year that you one might expect. But it all started here last year and he may just rekindle that fire on a place that holds such incredible memories.

Win McMurry
Host, PGA TOUR Today
Pick: Chad Campbell
He's only teed it up on this course once before, in 2007, but he finished tied for 15th. Before his tie for 18th at the U.S. Open, he missed his last three straight cuts. But he has recorded three top-10s and five top-12s this season. I like the Texan up in New England.

Scott Pianowski
PGATOUR.com Fantasy Insider
Pick: Hunter Mahan
It feels a little cheesy picking him in this slot, but he does qualify under the sleeper rules. Mahan obviously likes the look of TPC River Highlands (he won here in 2007, ran second in 2006), and his game came around nicely at the U.S. Open (tied for 18th). In truth, he's one of the favorites this week.

Helen Ross
PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents
Pick:Hunter Mahan
The defending champion had a great 2007 season that ended up with a berth on the U.S. Presidents Cup team, but he hasn't carried that momentum into this year. A tie for 18th at the U.S. Open last week, coupled with the return to a place where he has had success, could indicate that Mahan is peaking.

Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent
Pick: Hunter Mahan
He has been making refinements to his swing, and he's starting to feel more comfortable with them. Also healthy again. He likes TPC River Highlands. He's the defending champion. Put it all together, and he could be the first repeat winner since Phil Mickelson.

John Swantek
PGA TOUR Productions Fantasy Insider
Pick: Woody Austin
Ranking 112th in driving distance average doesn't matter this week on the TOUR's third shortest course at 6,820 yards. This is Woody's time of year, as all three of his victories have come in the hot summer months, including The Travelers Championship in 2004. Maybe it's the comfort of knowing that he can always cool off with a dip in a lake. Sorry, it's just too easy.