Originally Published: October 22, 2008
Defending champ Weir a popular pick this week in Arizona
With just three official PGA Tour events left in the 2008 season, much is still left to decide.
Who will climb into the top 30 and earn an invite to the Masters? Which players will climb to crucial spots in the world rankings? And, most importantly to some, is a PGA Tour card guaranteed for 2009 with a finish inside the top 125 on the money list? Careers could be extended or ended with how some players do this week at the Frys.com Open. Our experts break down their predictions into four categories.Want a different viewpoint on who might win? Try the ESPN.com FOREcaster.
| Frys.com 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 |
Mike Weir. The defending champion seemed to like Grayhawk just fine, as he missed just 15 greens in regulation for the entire tournament and fired a final-round 68 to win.
|
Mike Weir used a victory at last year's tourney to help him get back on track. With seven top-10s this season, he's due for another win.
|
Sean O'Hair shot four rounds in the 60s at Grayhawk a year ago when he tied for fourth.
|
Mike Weir. He won at Grayhawk last year, and at No. 15 owns the highest world ranking in the field.
|
| Birdie Buster |
Billy Mayfair. The Scottsdale resident gets to play at home and he finished third at the event last year.
|
How's this for a strange twist of fate: Soon-to-be 50-year-old Michael Allen already owns better status on the PGA Tour for next year than the Champions circuit.
|
Davis Love III dearly wants a win this fall and following a T-6 last week, he just might get one.
|
Davis Love III. I'm riding this horse as he chases down a spot on the 2010 Ryder Cup team.
|
| Super Sleeper |
Davis Love III. The 19-time PGA Tour winner is getting closer to his old form and has moved up enough to occupy the 125th spot on the PGA Tour money list.
|
A Ryder Cup player just two years ago, Vaughn Taylor is currently on the outside looking in to retain his playing privileges for 2009.
|
If not for a final-round 73 last week Ryan Moore would have had a top-10 finish. Couple that with his T-6 at the Fry's a year ago and you should have a contender.
|
Kevin Streelman. There is a victory lurking here, it's just a matter of when.
|
| Winner |
Pat Perez. Another local, this would be the perfect place for Perez to break through and get his first PGA Tour victory.
|
The last player in the field to commit to this week's event, putter supreme Aaron Baddeley is the pick in his adopted hometown.
|
Sure, picking the defending champ is the easy way out, but Mike Weir is playing well enough to repeat.
|
Bubba Watson. He's ready to get back on the competi-tive horse in his first start since the Tour Championship. |
How's this for a strange twist of fate: Soon-to-be 50-year-old
A Ryder Cup player just two years ago,
If not for a final-round 73 last week
The last player in the field to commit to this week's event, putter supreme

