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Tough week to pick a winner on Tour considering that when the last putt drops Sunday at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club it will likely be the circuit’s last at the Joe Lee design. According to various reports, the tournament that dates to 1958 has become a victim of the lagging American auto market and officials are prepared to announce a new sponsor and venue following this week’s event. Adding to the maudlin atmosphere will be the absence of defending champion Kenny Perry who will remain at home in Kentucky tending to his ailing mother. Pick a Foursome: Picking Tiger Woods is always easy particularly when he’s all in against perhaps the weakest PGA Tour field he has faced in years. With just five of the top 40 players in the world ranking the Buick Open is, at least statistically speaking, easy pickings for the world No. 1.XXIO Golf As for Gay, he’s heading toward exclusive company if he can land a third victory in 2009. He’s also finished inside the top 25 in half his Buick starts (five) and was a distant second to Woods in ’02 at Warwick Hills. Picks:Tiger Woods, N/A, N/A, Brian Gay Note: One player from four categories based on the World Golf Ranking (1-10, A; 11-20, B; 21-30, C; 31-40, D). Points awarded on money earned ($1 = 1 point). Salary Cap:Forget Woods’ price tag, he’s worth every penny of that $4.56 million, and Nick Watney needs a solid push through the PGA Championship to keep his Presidents Cup hopes alive.Titleist Golf Lee is a steal at $250K. The non-member tied for seventh at Congressional and has been at or under par in his last six Tour rounds. Picks: Tiger Woods, Nick Watney, Justin Leonard, Woody Austin, Danny Lee (Total: $9.719 million) Note: Five players with a $10 million cap based on 2008 earnings. Rookies without 2008 earnings will be priced at $250,000. Standings based on overall team earnings.TaylorMade Golf Pick One:Woody Austin. “Aquaman” has finished runner-up here the last two years and, despite an unsteady summer, normally plays his best golf after the All-Star break. Note: Players must be picked before the start of the season and used only once. Standings based on total earnings. In addition to my PGA Tour Pick One, the GolfChannel.com staff will be offering up their picks to win. A player can be picked a maximum of five times. We will be keeping a running tally of the monies earned each week. The participants include: Jay Coffin, Editorial Director; Mercer Baggs, Editorial Manager; Brian Koressel, Senior Producer; Dena Davis, Assistant Editor; Erik Peterson, Travel Editor; Jerry Foltz, special contributor.Civilians Golf STAFF PICKS: Name Player Pick Reason Money Rex Hoggard Justin Leonard The Texan has a solid record at Warrick Hills (including a victory in ’96 and T-2 in ’07), is fresh from his first top 10 (T-8 at Turnberry) at a major since 2004 and is one of the game’s best putters and that works on any golf course. $2,847,801 Jay Coffin Scott Verplank He’s coming off three consecutive top-10s on Tour and he hasn’t missed a cut at the Buick since 1999. During that same span Verplank has recorded eight top-25 finishes here. $5,017,202 Mercer Baggs Brandt Snedeker Tiger will probably win, but I’m running out of chances to pick him. I’ll take a flier on Snedeker to finish second. $5,687,689Putter Series Erik Peterson Jim Furyk Hasn’t finished worse than 11th at a non-major event since April. With a non-major field this week, Furyk is a sure bet. $4,700,575 Brian Koressel Jim Furyk Solid track record at the Buick Open, solid track record this year. $4,843,188 Dena Davis Jim Furyk No-brainer. Four top-10s in his last six events and Warwick Hills is Furyk’s B.F.F. $4,423,500 Jerry Foltz Jim Furyk Tiger is not instilling that Tiger-like confidence in us lately. Furyk, like Tiger, rarely disappoints. Plus, he’s never missed a cut here and has only finished out of the top-16 three times in 14 appearances. $4,618,107
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