Sony Open experts' picks - ESPN
Talk about a fast start. ESPN.com's Bob Harig gets a victory right out of the gate in the first week of our experts' survivor picks for 2015.
In a fresh twist for this year, our golf experts ("SportsCenter" anchor Matt Barrie, "SportsCenter" anchor Jonathan Coachman, ESPN.com senior golf analyst Michael Collins, ESPN.com senior golf writer Bob Harig, ESPN.com senior golf editor Kevin Maguire and "SportsCenter" coordinating producer John Ziomek) will pick one player they think will win that week's PGA Tour event.
They will "earn" whatever cash their selection makes that week. Finish first and it's likely a $1 million-plus payout. Miss the cut and it's a bagel in the bank.
The catch? They can pick any particular golfer only once all season. And we'll keep a tally, updated every week -- for bragging rights, of course.
This week, the tour stops at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu for the Sony Open.
Matt Barrie, "SportsCenter" anchor: Matt Kuchar
Kuchar was in contention last week in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions before a tournament-killing 74 in the third round. He rebounded nicely with a final-round 68.
I like his recent track record at Waialae Country Club, with two top-5s and a top-8 in his last three starts. Give me Kuuuuuuuuuuch.
Jonathan Coachman, "SportsCenter" anchor: Zach Johnson
Zach Johnson loves the start of the year, loves playing in Hawaii and he played well last week. I think he takes things personally and when he does that, he turns into a bulldog. I like bulldogs.
Michael Collins, ESPN.com senior golf analyst: Zach Johnson
He ranks 10th in all-time money earned at the Sony Open. The reason why? He ranks eighth in driving accuracy, hitting 74 percent of the fairways at Waialae, which is much harder than you would think on a course that's so flat. Coming off a top-10 finish in Maui, Johnson will remain solid this week.
Bob Harig, ESPN.com senior golf writer: Charles Howell III
He is going to win another tournament, right? It is hard to believe that Howell, who came to the game with so much fanfare out of college in 2001, has just two PGA Tour titles.
But if there is ever a place to get a third, it is Hawaii. Howell seemingly always contends at the Sony Open. Last year he tied for eighth, and that was one of the rare times he finished outside of the top five. He has seven top-5s in this tournament.
If nothing else, Howell seems like a good bet to secure a bunch of money, if not win. So I'll take a shot at him getting it done or at least giving it a run.
Kevin Maguire, ESPN.com senior golf editor: Matt Kuchar
It's been feast or famine for Kuchar at the Sony Open -- four top-8 finishes, six missed cuts. Working in his favor is that three of those four top-8s came in his past three starts in Honolulu. Add in that Kuchar is typically one of the most accurate drivers on tour, something that is always crucial at Waialae Country Club, and he might be able to sneak in that first Aloha State victory.
After Harig posted a victory in the first start of 2015 by picking Patrick Reed at Kapalua, there's plenty of ground to be made up.
John Ziomek, "SportsCenter" coordinating producer: Sang-Moon Bae
I was impressed how Bae was able to focus on his game and put his visa issues aside at Kapalua. A sixth-place finish should help his confidence heading to the Sony Open, where he finished T-32 after an opening-round 63 last season. He practiced at Waialae before Kapalua, so he knows the course. If he remains focused, expect another solid week.
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