Our PGA Championship Predictions

Who'll win this week's tournament at Southern Hills? Our staff writers pick a winner, along with a sleeper pick and a potential disappointment.

Bill Fields's Picks

< Predicted Winner: Tiger Woods. Intense heat (literal or figurative) shouldn't faze him. Coming off a strong Firestone effort, he's primed to win his first major of 2007.
Keep An Eye On: Scott Verplank. Steady veteran could threaten in his adopted home state.
Don't Expect Much From: Sergio Garcia. Residuals from his Carnoustie disappointment have not gone away.

John Hawkins's Picks

< Predicted Winner: Jim Furyk. The perfect venue for the game's ultimate control player, he won't let the heat -- or anything else -- bother him.
Keep An Eye On: Sergio Garcia. So close at the British, he hits it too well not to contend at the big ones.
Don't Expect Much From: Phil Mickelson. Poor play since Players may be due to wrist, but he seems to lose interest by this point in the season.

Ryan Herrington's Picks

< Predicted Winner: Tiger Woods. It's hard to see the world's No. 1 shut out during 2007 major season. Woods' ball striking hindered his performance at Carnoustie, but he looked much more confident with his swing last week at Firestone.
Keep An Eye On: Hunter Mahan. After breaking through with his first PGA Tour win at June's Travelers Championship, the 25-year-old could have cruised through the rest of 2007. Instead, he has kept giving it the gas, claiming three more top-10s. The former college player of the year at Oklahoma State has some history at Southern Hills in winning the 2003 Big 12 title by 13 shots.
Don't Expect Much From: Padraig Harrington. The post-victory hangover from finally winning a major often leaves the best golfers in a daze for months, and the Irishman is as likely a victim from feeling its effects.

Matt Rudy's Picks

< Predicted Winner: Tiger Woods. I guess this is the one year picking Woods isn't chalk: He's 0-for-the-majors in '07, and the dog-legged par-70 Southern Hills isn't one of his favorite venues. Sure, there are horses for courses, but there are also guys who win by eight the week before.
Keep An Eye On: Hunter Mahan. One of the tour's legendary head cases through most of his career, Mahan has got himself organized in 2007. Last five starts for this streaky birdie machine? A win and three other top-10s, including a T-6 at Carnoustie.
Don’t Expect Much From: Retief Goosen. Sure, he won the U.S. Open at Southern Hills in 2001. But the animatronic South African has only one top-10 finish on the PGA Tour this year and staggered around Firestone last week in 16-over.