Sports editor Lance Hanlin has taken over Jeff Kidd's former duty of picking Ten Who Can Win, and he really went out on a limb with his No. 1 spot, taking two-time defending champ Boo Weekley to make it three in a row.
I'm going to be a little more bold with my picks. Sure, there are nine former Heritage champs in the field, and I expect usual suspects such as Weekley, Aaron Baddeley, Stewart Cink and Davis Love III to be in the mix, but I think we're going to have a new champ this year.
So, without further ado, here is my list of "Ten Who Can Win" this week:
10. Camilo Villegas -- I don't know if I really think he can win, or if I just like typing his name and hearing it in my head, but one of the flashiest dressers on the tour certainly has the game to match.
9. Spencer Levin -- Maybe it's just the writer in me hoping for a great story, but the last guy in the field (he was the second alternate going into the week, but got in Wednesday morning when Bart Bryant became the second withdrawal of the week) seems to be close to recognizing the potential he showed as an amateur.
8. Paul Casey -- Harbour Town doesn't necessarily suit his game, but as the highest-ranked player in the field (seventh in the Official World Golf Rankings), you can't count him out.
7. Rory McIlroy -- The kid is going to win in American soon enough. Why not this week?
6. Brett Quigley -- The former Gamecock has played well here before (T5 in 2006), and he comes in on a tear, tying for second in two of his last three starts.
5. Steve Flesch -- A lefty is bound to win here one of these days, and Flesch has the best shot this week. His putter was on fire during a T6 at the Masters.
4. Ernie Els -- His missed cut here last year was the exception; he placed in the top 10 in seven of his previous nine starts at Harbour Town.
3. Vaughn Taylor -- The Augusta, Ga., native simply plays well here. He missed the cut last year, but had top-five finishes the previous two years.
2. Jim Furyk -- Often a bridesmaid at Harbour Town, Furyk will have his day here. I think he would wear tartan well.
1. Tim Clark -- Don't ask me why I think this is the year Clark breaks through here (his best finish in six starts is T7 in 2006) but he played well at the Masters and he is the kind of player who does well here. And I could listen to him talk all day.
But don't take my word for it -- feel free to post your own picks.
-- Justin Jarrett
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