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They have surveyed the green, examined the breaks and calculated the grain, speed and dimensions. Here's how CBSSports.com staffers Steve Elling, Ross Devonport and Dan Lubin are handicapping this week's AT&T National.
| No-Brainer: Who's head of the class, king of the hill, top of the heap? | ||
| Steve Elling CBSSports.com Senior Writer | Ross Devonport CBSSports.com Fantasy Writer | Dan Lubin CBSSports.com Golf Producer |
 Jim Furyk As though this dart-throwing contest isn't tricky enough -- trying to pick winners, I mean -- this is only the second year of the event and many of the stars elected to stay home for various reasons, including the host himself, whose left leg is in a cast. When in doubt, pick a guy with some career success and ability, so Jim Furyk, who finished T3 at Congressional Country Club last year, seems a logical pick. Besides, his caddie, Mike (Fluff) Cowan, is a Congressional member, so that can't hurt. |  Stuart Appleby Stuart Appleby has been a weekend machine this season and opened the year with four straight top-10s, but he's still waiting for a first title since the 2006 Houston Open. He finished third here last year and although he's not playing his best golf right now, it seems to be one poor round that's killing him every time (79 at the U.S. Open, 72 at the Travelers). If he can put together four decent rounds at Congressional, he could lift the trophy on Sunday. |  Anthony Kim The only top-10 players in the field, Steve Stricker and K.J. Choi, are in a funk of late. Ditto for Jim Furyk. I'll skip over Trevor Immelman as well and tag Anthony Kim as my top dog. After a promising rookie season in 2007, Kim is having his breakout year, capped most triumphantly by a victory at the Wachovia Championship. At 23, Kim has developed rapidly into an elite player on Tour. He now stands 20th in the OWGR and continues to rise. Will he reach the top 10? Possibly, but the more compelling question is his long-term prospect. He has a complete game, which should win him plenty of tournaments in the years ahead. Dare I ask if Kim could become a real rival to Tiger at some point down the road? |
| Late for his Tee Time: Who's playing well and ready for a breakthrough? | ||
| Steve Elling CBSSports.com Senior Writer | Ross Devonport CBSSports.com Fantasy Writer | Dan Lubin CBSSports.com Golf Producer |
 Rocco Mediate This is Rocco Mediate's second tournament since his whirlwind, 91-hole march at the U.S. Open, and last week's appearance at the Buick Open was nothing spectacular (T28). But perhaps the hubbub has waned enough to let him play without too many distractions related to nearly beating Tiger Woods, the tournament host this week and the winner at the Open. Mediate finished eighth at Congressional last year and says he loves the course. Oh, and Congressional is a U.S. Open course, so he has that going for him, too. |  John Rollins John Rollins put together two solid rounds at Open Championship qualifying on Monday to earn his way to Royal Birkdale, and he has three rounds of 65 or less in his last seven. However, he also has a 74 and two 72s in there -- numbers that won't win you any tournament. If he can continue to hit greens consistently this week like he has been in his last couple of tournaments, watch out. |  Robert Allenby With Stewart Cink now duly rewarded with a win, could we possibly get one for poor Mr. Allenby? His PGA Tour winless streak is nearing seven years. He's played like a champ all season long, made the cut in 15 consecutive events and collected five top 10s along the way. Or how about these numbers: third in Greens in Regulation, 12th in scoring average and 19th in total driving. The putter is the only thing that is occasionally hurting his chances. Yet this week could be his time. In previous starts at Congreesional, Allenby has played extremely well. In 2007, he took a share of sixth place. In 2005, when Congressional hosted the Booz Allen Classic, he finished T13. |
| One in a 100: Who could surprise us with a great performance? | ||
| Steve Elling CBSSports.com Senior Writer | Ross Devonport CBSSports.com Fantasy Writer | Dan Lubin CBSSports.com Golf Producer |
 Pat Perez American veteran Pat Perez is having his best season from a consistency standpoint and is well past due to break through for his first victory. He has played 16 times and only missed three cuts, collecting six top 25s along the way. Perez finished in a tie for third at Congressional last year, beating Woods (T6) for the week and reinforcing that he can handle the big boys on a big-league layout. |  Tim Herron He might be Lumpy, but his putting stroke has been anything but lately. Tim Herron didn't play very well in May, but he turned things around nicely in June with a T13 in Memphis (despite an opening 74) and a T19 last week that featured four rounds in the 60s. He also finished second, along with teammate Paul Goydos, at the CVS Caremack Charity Tournament last week. |  Kevin Streelman Not many people knew who Kevin Streelman was when his name appeared atop the U.S. Open leaderboard after the first round. Until late last year, he was just a face among the mutitiude of anonymous golfers slaving away on the mini-tours. Then he got his big break at PGA Tour Q School, taking 14th place in the final stage and earning his rookie card for 2008. For much of the first half of the season, it's been tough sledding. Even at the U.S. Open, he plummeted soon after his first-round thrill. But surprising, the 28-year-old seemed to gain a bit of confidence by his experience. In his last two starts since the Open, he earned his highest finishes -- T10 and T12. And let's not forget that 62 he shot at the Travelers Championship. This guy can really play some quality golf. |
