Let\u2019s explore a few intriguing names to consider in your sports picks this week.<\/p>\n
THE ELITE \u2013 A.K.A. THE TIGER WOODS CATEGORY<\/h3>\n
Tiger Woods<\/strong><\/p>\n Barclays odds: +185 Phil Mickelson<\/strong><\/p>\n Barclays odds: +1850 Hunter Mahan<\/strong><\/p>\n Barclays odds: +2250 Steve Stricker<\/strong><\/p>\n Barclays odds: +3050 Kenny Perry<\/strong><\/p>\n Barclays odds: +4550 Jim Furyk<\/strong><\/p>\n Barclays odds: +5250
\nAs I\u2019ve said all season long, there are weeks when you pick Tiger simply because he\u2019s Tiger and weeks when you pick him because the course suits his game. This week, if you pick him, you\u2019re taking a leap of faith on his name, as he\u2019s not necessarily set up to dominate. The Barclays host course, Liberty National, is long but not so long that Tiger will have a huge advantage on the field. It\u2019s also no guarantee that he\u2019ll return mentally strong after his collapse in the PGA Championship. What if the defeat is still weighing on him? I\u2019d pick someone who offers better value if I were you.<\/p>\nTHE CONTENDERS<\/h3>\n
\nIt\u2019s been an odd year for Lefty, a mix of spotty success and hiatuses for family time. Could he finally break through for a victory this week? We know he can handle Liberty National\u2019s length. We also know he can still go low, as he ranks fourth on Tour in birdie conversion percentage. Better yet, he has a nice intangible on his side; he\u2019s a member at Liberty Village, so he should know the course like no one else. That means he\u2019ll know when and when not to be aggressive. He\u2019s an excellent pick this week.<\/p>\n
\nIf there\u2019s a golfer ready to explode into the Tour\u2019s elite, I dare you to name someone before Hunter Mahan. He\u2019s been consistently strong all season, ranking high in greens in regulation and scoring average. His driving accuracy, however, could hurt him and we still don\u2019t know just how well he can perform if he has a lead late on Sunday.<\/p>\n
SOLID PICKS<\/h3>\n
\nStricker will be a popular pick this week thanks to his good all-around play this season, which includes two wins. However, he hasn\u2019t beaten any deep fields and he\u2019s short off the tee, so your money may be better spent elsewhere.<\/p>\n
\n+4550 is darned good value for a guy with two wins this season. Kenny\u2019s ball striking gives him a shot to win almost every week, but he\u2019s struggled of late, finishing outside the top 40 in three of four tournaments. It\u2019s quite possible that he\u2019s simply tired; it\u2019s late August, he\u2019s in his late 40s and he\u2019s played a ton this season.<\/p>\nTHE SLEEPER<\/h3>\n
\nIt feels weird to call Furyk a sleeper, but his +5250 value makes him one. He\u2019s been rock-solid for much of the season, cracking the top 10 seven times, and his fundamental stats are sound in putting, scrambling and proximity to hole. You have to consider him strongly.<\/p>\n2009 PGA – The Barclay’s Championship Pick:<\/h3>\n