Originally Published: April 16, 2008

Who will win the Verizon Heritage?

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ESPN.com/GolfDigest.com

Come forth, all ye ball-strikers. At less than 7,000 yards, Harbour Town Golf Links is a venue where the PGA Tour's shorter, more accurate players can succeed, as evidenced by recent victories by the likes of Boo Weekley and Peter Lonard.

So, who will take the title? Our experts make their predictions for the Verizon Heritage.

Verizon Heritage predictions
Bob Harig
ESPN.com contributor
Jason Sobel
ESPN.com golf editor
Ron Sirak
Golf World executive editor
Horse for the Course 2006 winner Aaron Baddeley tied for 10th last year. With its premium on putting, Harbour Town might be the perfect venue for him. Davis Love III has more tartan plaid in his closet than ... your local bagpipe group. But it's a good look on him. Really. This is a virtual home game for five-time winner Davis Love III. He has another win left in him.
Birdie Buster Ernie Els, coming off a missed cut at the Masters, finished second at the Heritage last year and has six top-10s in his past seven appearances in the event. Jim Furyk finished runner-up here in 2005 and '06, and the time just feels right for him to claim another victory. Justin Leonard has won here, and his game is very close to clicking on all cylinders.
Super Sleeper His streak of majors ended at 70 when he missed last week's Masters, but Davis Love III is a five-time winner of the Heritage. OK, I'm not sure Jerry Kelly qualifies as a sleeper, but I need to add him somewhere. Last year's third-round leader shot 77 on Sunday to finish T-8. A control game works here, and Fred Funk -- at 51 years and 10 months -- could become second-oldest tour winner, behind Sam Snead's 52 years and 10 months.
Winner Justin Leonard considers this one of his favorite venues, and he's having a good year, with four top-10s and no missed cuts in 10 starts. A better ball-striker than he's given credit for, Stephen Ames will build on the moderate success he had in Augusta. Coming in off a strong Masters, Stewart Cink picks up his third title at Harbour Town.