Each week during the official PGA Tour season, a panel of CBSSports.com staffers each will identify nine players to watch in three distinct categories -- longshots, favorites and ‘tweeners. The picks will be based on a combination of homework, guesswork and just plain instinct.
Note: Odds courtesy of Las Vegas Hilton Sports Book and/or Golfodds.com.
Favorites
Steve Elling CBSSports.com Senior Writer
Ross Devonport CBSSports.com Fantasy Writer
Dan Lubin CBSSports.com Golf Producer
Andres Romero The defending New Orleans champ stayed up late partying with fellow Argentine Angel Cabrera after the Masters, and is due to snap out of his early 2009 funk. (30/1)
Steve Stricker He has had multiple chances to win this year – including an outside shot at the Masters on Sunday – but hasn’t delivered. Was T11 here in 2007. (15/1)
Kenny Perry After the Masters, his brain is as crispy as Kentucky-fried chicken, but Perry is the king of streaky players, and he’s been playing well all spring, right? (12/1)
Steve Stricker I would be stupid to skip Stricker or Kenny Perry with this relatively weak field. Four top-six finishes already in 2009. (15/1)
Kenny Perry Perry might have choked at the Masters, but he will be ready to redeem himself this week in New Orleans. His average record here scares me a little, though. (12/1)
Nick Watney Won here two years ago and is undoubtedly having his best season as a pro in 2009. He just needs to avoid spending too much of his newly-earned money at Harrah’s. (12/1)
Kenny Perry Who knows what Perry will look like after such a deflating loss at the Masters, but he's easily among the field's best. (12/1)
Nick Watney Watney earned his maiden victory at the TPC Louisiana back in 2007. He's now sitting pretty at No. 4 on the money list. (12/1)
Steve Stricker Contended at the Masters, taking a share of sixth -- his fourth top-10 of 2009. At 42, he's still playing top-notch golf. (15/1)
Under the radar
Steve Elling CBSSports.com Senior Writer
Ross Devonport CBSSports.com Fantasy Writer
Dan Lubin CBSSports.com Golf Producer
Tim Wilkinson The second-year tour pro, a left-handed Kiwi, played in the final group last week at Hilton Head and was third here last year. Good enough for me. (50/1)
John Merrick The Elephant Man was one of the bright spots of Masters Sunday and was third at New Orleans in 2007, so he’s a solid under-the-wire pick. (30/1)
John Senden A reliable, if unspectacular, player, the Aussie veteran has played well this spring and has three straight top-20 finishes in New Orleans. (50/1)
Ian Poulter Can we have two Englishmen win in the space of a month? Sure, why not? Poulter finished T7 at English Turn in 2006. (30/1)
Woody Austin Woody finally showed up last week with a T11, and seems to like TPC Louisiana, as he’s finished T4, T18 and T5 in his three trips. (30/1)
Lucas Glover While he missed the cut here last year, Glover finished T3 in 2005 and T8 in 2007. He seems to be over a little three-tournament. (30/1)
Justin Rose The New Orleans event has awarded first-time winners for 4 years running. Rose might be among the best players without a win.
Ian Poulter A seven-time European champion without a victory in the U.S. His time will come. Had a solid showing (T20) at the Masters. (30/1)
Woody Austin Two career top-5s at TPC Louisiana and T11 last week at Heritage. Woody has made the cut in all eight events entered this season. (30/1)
Longshots
Steve Elling CBSSports.com Senior Writer
Ross Devonport CBSSports.com Fantasy Writer
Dan Lubin CBSSports.com Golf Producer
Lee Janzen Last week, he posted his first top-5 finish since late 2006 to earn an automatic spot in the New Orleans field. Was T24 here in 2007. (100/1)
Woody Austin It’s been a while since the Woodman contended, and he had a chance to win in New Orleans last year before finishing T4. Has four top-25s in a row here. (30/1)
Danny Lee This marks the first event as a pro for the reigning U.S. Amateur champion. Let’s hope he doesn’t six-putt any greens, like he did at Augusta National. (100/1)
Todd Hamilton A T15 at the Masters and a T4 last week tells me he’s doing something right, but how long can Hamilton keep this up? (50/1)
Patrick Sheehan It’s been done once before, winning one week on the Nationwide Tour and winning the next week on the PGA Tour (Paul Stankowski, 1996), so I’m hoping Sheehan can pull it off. (No odds)
Bob Estes Estes has two top-20s in his last three events, finished T8 here two years ago, and has three other top-25s -- including a T2 in 2003 -- among his 10 total trips to the Big Easy. (60/1)
Lucas Glover Mediocre year in 2008, but this season he is playing better. Finished T3 and T8 at the TPC Louisiana in past appearances. (30/1)
Tim Petrovic The 2005 champion at the TPC of Louisiana. He finished T7 there last year as well and comes off T8 at Harbour Town.
Alex Cejka After early struggles, Cejka has earned three top-15 finishes since March. He shot 64 in round one last week.
