ESPN Golf

As the PGA Tour nears the halfway mark of its Fall Series, and with just four official tournaments remaining on the schedule after this week, the tour turns to the Lone Star state for the Texas Valero Open.

Defending champion Justin Leonard is looking to cap a remarkable 2008 season that some believe started with a win in the 2007 event at the La Cantera Golf Club in San Antonio. But he'll have some stiff competition in the field this week with the likes of Ryder Cup teammate and fellow Texan Chad Campbell looking for his first win of the year.

So who will take home that oversized winner's check and who could help secure their PGA Tour card for 2009? Our experts break down their predictions into four categories.

Want a different viewpoint on who might win? Try the ESPN.com FOREcaster.

Valero Texas Open predictions
	Bob Harig ESPN.com golf writer	Jason Sobel ESPN.com golf writer	John Antonini Golf World senior editor	Ron Sirak Golf World exec. editor
Horse for the Course	Dean Wilson. He's from Hawaii, but Wilson loves the Texas Open. In four starts at LaCantera Golf Club, and he has four top-10 finishes, including a second two years ago.	You say Texas Open, I say Justin Leonard. In fact, I'll be surprised if a few of my colleagues don't pick the defending champ to win his fourth title in this home-state event.	Defending champ Justin Leonard has won this event three times, tying Arnold Palmer for the most wins in the venerable event's history.	Justin Leonard has won this event before and feels at ease in his home state.
Birdie Buster	Justin Leonard. At one point last year, Leonard had fallen outside of the top 200 in the world rankings. Hard to believe now, given Leonard's success this year, including starring on the U.S. Ryder Cup team. A big part in his comeback came at last year's Texas Open, where he won for the first time since 2005.	Nos. 2-5 on the 2008 birdie average list are a foursome of guys named Villegas, Perry, Mickelson and Harrington. The only player above them? Ryan Palmer, who is averaging an impressive 4.11 birdies per round.	Davis Love III's determi- nation to make the next Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup teams has him playing events that haven't been on his schedule in years. Coming off a T-3 at Turning Stone, he's one of the more compelling players at LaCantera.	Sean O'Hair. It's a good time of the year to pad the win total -- and the bank account.
Super Sleeper	Jesper Parnevik. The Swede is not having the best season, as he currently sits outside the top 125 on the money list. But he did lose here a year ago in a playoff to Justin Leonard.	There aren't many players who have consist- ently kept their PGA Tour card for so long without finding the winner's circle than Harrison Frazar. He's got some work to do to keep that streak alive.	Ranked 145th in earnings, Frank Lickliter has three top-10s (including one last year) at LaCantera. A good finish here would help secure his 2009 tour card.	David Duval. I truly believe he is going to win again someday. Too much talent there not to.
Winner	Chad Campbell. He won a year ago at this time at the Viking Classic, a tournament he did not get to defend because it was played during the Ryder Cup. Coming off a nice Ryder Cup and a mini-break after the Tour Championship, Campbell should be in a confident mode.	The Fall Finish is a great opportun- ity for young guys (like Dustin Johnson at Turning Stone last week) to strut their stuff. But I'll give the nod to crafty veteran David Toms, who has been knocking on the door in recent months.	Dean Wilson has played the Texas Open four times and has four top-10s. This year he should break through.	Chad Campbell. He's another Texan who will feed off home cooking.