Puerto Rico Open presented by Banco Popular
Monday Mar 17 – Sunday Mar 23, 2008

Expert Picks: Puerto Rico Open pres. by Banco Popular

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Mar. 20, 2008

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T.J. Auclair
PGATOUR.COM Interactive Producer
Pick: Tim Petrovic
He tied for 15th at the Canadian Open presented by Franklin Templeton Investments in 2007. Then a few weeks back, he tied for seventh at the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun. My point? Petrovic plays well outside of the States (of course, Puerto Rico is a U.S. Commonwealth, but not a "state"). I think that trend will continue this week and I also think Petrovic is due for a win.

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Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.COM Editorial Coordinator
Pick: John Merrick
Merrick has quietly put together a solid season with three top-25 finishes. One of those was a tie for third at the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun, the last event opposite a World Golf Championships tournament. He's No. 57 on the FedExCup points list and is 15th on TOUR in Driving Distance. Look for him to slip under the radar this week and surprise the TOUR with his first win.

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Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Joe Durant
Too good not to jump back in the winner's circle. And soon. Had a disappointing last day at Buick, but still a solid start to the season.

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Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Pick: Tom Lehman
Solid play at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard carries over to a tournament where Chi Chi Rodriquez is the resident host.

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John Maginnes
PGATOUR.COM Contributor
Pick: Tom Lehman
Most of the time I know the golf course and try to base my picks on that. In Puerto Rico this week, though, I am just taking stabs in the dark. But, Tom Lehman is playing well and looking for his first victory in quite a while. So, I will go with the former Ryder Cup captain this week. Heck, he might even make a run at qualifying for Zinger's Ryder Cup team.

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Scott Pianowski
The Fantasy Insider
Pick: Alex Cejka
I like his consistent iron game, I like his steady play this year, and the Scrabble player in me can't look past the X, J and K in his name. Go ahead, beat that logic.

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Helen Ross
PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
Pick: Matt Kuchar
He's been very consistent this year -- making the cut in six of seven starts and earning just over $400,000. Not to mention, his best finish happened to come in an opposite field event when he tied for third at the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Rivera-Maya Cancun. Here's another opportunity to get back in the winner's circle.

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Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.COM Senior Correspondent
Pick: Alex Cejka
He's played some sterling golf in Florida, with a couple of top-10 finishes. Ranks in the top 40 in driving accuracy (38th), which should be a helpful facet on the Coco Beach Golf & Country Club's composite course, and also in scoring average (31st).

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John Swantek
PGA TOUR Productions Fantasy Insider
Pick: Alejandro Canizares
This q-school grad has made the most of his limited status, making the cut in all four starts this year, including a final-round 67 in Mexico opposite the World Golf Championships- Accenture Match Play Championship. The talented Spaniard knows how to win and did so on the European Tour in his third professional start as a 22-year-old.

EXPERTS STANDINGS
Following the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard
PGATOUR.com Experts 1st 2nd 3rd Top-10s Missed Cuts FedExCup Points
Scott Pianowski 2 3 2 10 3 23,956
Dave Shedloski 2 3 1 8 4 23,340
Win McMurry 3 1 2 8 5 21,884
Helen Ross 2 2 - 8 4 19,527
Lauren Deason 2 2 1 6 7 18,529
Melanie Hauser 2 1 - 5 5 15,891
John Maginnes 1 2 2 5 8 13,089
T.J. Auclair 2 - - 3 6 12,987
John Swantek 1 2 1 5 3 12,511
Dave Lagarde - 1 - 5 4 7,874
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