Sleeper Picks: HP Byron Nelson Championship

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May. 18, 2010

The PGA TOUR heads to the TPC Four Seasons for the HP Byron Nelson Championship. Here's how the PGATOUR.COM experts sized up the top contenders:

EXPERT PICKS
How it works: Our experts from PGATOUR.COM select the player they think will win this week's event. By using a draft process, no two picks can be the same. The player who wins the previous week picks last the following week. Click here
SLEEPER PICKS
Of the players who didn't make the cut for our top picks, which have the best chance as sleepers? Here's how our experts see it.
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Sleeper picks: HP Byron Nelson Championship

Expert	Pick order	Player selected
Mike McAllister			MARC LEISHMAN. Last year's Rookie of the Year shot a third-round 63 in Dallas a year ago and eventually finished T8. The affable Australian (is there any other kind?) hasn't been in contention lately, so he needs to pick up the pace.
John Swantek			BRETT WETTERICH. After missing the entire '09 season with a lingering shoulder injury, the '06 Byron Nelson champ appears healthy and ready to contend after a T13 in San Antonio last week.
Casey Black			MICHAEL SIM. Last year's Nationwide Tour Player of the Year is still looking for that first win on the PGA TOUR. He's proven he can play, though, especially after his tie for second at the Farmers Insurance Open.
Lauren Deason			CHRIS COUCH. He's never made the cut in this event, so that's a tad worrisome. But he's playing so well right now -- three top-20s in his last seven starts -- and is motivated by his quest to earn only $57,250 more for a Major Medical Extension.
Anne Szeker			MATT JONES. It was a good week for Australians last week in Texas, so here's hoping that continues to the Nelson. Jones is T10, T7 and T22 in last three starts.
Brian Wacker			RICKY BARNES. The former U.S. Amateur champ is having a career year with four top-10s, including two in his last four starts. One other stat I like about Barnes: He's fourth on TOUR in total birdies.
Helen Ross			CHARLEY HOFFMAN. He's playing well with top-20s in his last two starts, including last week's tie for 13th in San Antonio. His wrist is better and the man with the green glove on the upswing.
Ryan Smithson			JAMES NITTIES. This guy is a great player who simply needs to learn how to score a little better on the weekends. He will be a great story when he breaks through with a win one of these days.

Standings after Week 19

LAST WEEK:	Helen Ross earned 57 points for Charley Hoffman's T13 at the Valero Texas Open:
Position	Name	Wins	Top-5s	Top-10s	Top-25s	FedExCup points
1	Ryan Smithson Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	-	1	1	3	580.57
2	Helen Ross Chief of Correspondents, PGATOUR.COM	-	1	3	5	505.75
3	John Swantek Host, PGA TOUR Today	-	1	3	4	431.33
4	Brian Wacker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	-	2	3	3	384.5
5	Lauren Deason Editorial Coordinator, PGATOUR.COM	-	1	1	1	332.07
6	Mike McAllister Managing Editor, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	1	3	321.33
7	Nick Zaccardi Associate Site Producer. PGATOUR.COM	-	-	-	2	292
8*	Casey Black Host, PGA TOUR Today	-	-	1	3	249.5
9*	Anne Szeker Site Producer, PGATOUR.COM	-	-	-	-	57.25