I love the Quail Hollow Championship. In recent years it has hosted a field full of big guns, and we need it after this past week. The choices are tough ones this week, but I’ll do my best.

NIKE GOLF: Four to Watch

Tiger Woods
He says his game has improved since a 4th place at Augusta. He’s won here before, he’s contended here before. I’ll take him in a heartbeat. Everyone will be gunning for him though…especially Phil and AK.

Anthony Kim
Sure, he’s my favourite golfer and after a nice 16th at the Ballantines, it’s not a bad thing. He had a 74 in his second round and similar to Quail Hollow last year, one bad round killed him. But he has won here and a T5. Also, in his last 5 PGA starts he’s finished 24, 2, 22, 1 and 3. He’s as hot as anyone. However, I feel as though he’ll be trying too hard this week to prove himself against Tiger and Phil.

Lucas Glover
I’m still looking for G’Lover to rebound. He had a T2 last year and T4 in ’06 with a T10 in ’04. He should rebound with a Top 25 this week for sure.

Stewart Cink
With a nice T14 at Verizon, he has some history to make him a contender here. T8 in ’08, T5 in ’07 and a T26 in ’06. He could do well.

THE FIELD: Four Who Are Hot

Lee Westwood
Four PGA tourneys this year and 3 Top 10′s. No brainer.

Hunter Mahan
Hunter is getting hotter. Aside from a MC, he had a quiet T8 at the Masters then T25, T30, 1st and T33. He’s as hot as Villegas, but I think he’s on a good roll. With a T22 here last year.

Camilo Villegas
Aside from one MC, Villegas’ finishes this year have been stellar. Finishes this year are as follows: 3, T8, 1, T16, T38 and T5.

Retief Goosen
Most Top 10′s on the Tour this year with 5 in 8 starts and a T11 here last year.

THE FIELD: Four Who Have History

Phil Mickelson
History + Hot – Phil has so many Top 10′s here it’s ridiculous. He’s hot and he’ll be in the Top 5.

Jim Furyk
History + Hot – Two wins this season, T11 last year, 7th in ’08, 1st in ’06, 2nd in ’05..it’s insane.

Vijay Singh
T17 in 08,  T7 in 07, T38 in 06, 1st in 05. I won’t keep going, but he could be a big sleeper here.

David Toms
Coming off a few solid weeks, Toms has won here in ’03, T18 last year, T17 in ’08 I think he has a chance to do well, but the field is so good.

FINAL FOUR: Tiger, Phil, AK and Furyk*

I really want Glover to bounce back strong and it was just too hard to pick a Final Four. It was toss-up between Mahan and AK. They can both get wild and have big rounds, but I lean to AK because of the history.

The choices were very hard this week and that’s a good thing for the PGA. All these great players have wins this year and I couldn’t be happier.

Seems like I’m cheating with my Final Four, so I’ll give you two sleepers: Rory McIlroy and Nick Watney

Pick with your heart,

D.

*Editor’s Note: I had to change my Final Four picks because Retief Goosen is not in the final field anymore. So I have replaced him with Jim Furyk.

Week one was a success and this week we go to N’awlins for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Two big things: Stricker and Poulter have both withdrawn from this event. It’s too bad for the PGA, but it’s a pretty weak field in New Orleans. However, there are still some choices to be made.

NIKE GOLF: Two to Watch

Stephen Ames – Only two this week, because not many Nike boys are in it, but Ames, who put together some solid rounds last week, has been playing well. I’m still weary because he hasn’t played here that much or has had MC’s in recent years. T7 in 04 at least.

David Duval – A bit of a stretch here. We know he’s been streaky, but I think he can take advantage of a field with less star power. He’s a super sleeper here also with no history. But really, who doesn’t want Duval to do well?

THE FIELD: Four Who Are Hot

KJ Choi – He was the sexy pick last week and finished ok, but I look for him to rebound this week and he has some history here.

Justin Rose – MC at Arnold Palmer, but other than that his 3 starts have all been Top 15′s. I think he’ll do well here.

Steve Marino – Three straight T15′s and a T5 last year is enough for me.

Steve Stricker’s Substitute – Brandt Snedeker – Did we all forget about Brandt? His last two starts have been MC’s, but that’s only because he was on fire with 8 straight made cuts. Long shot, but I look for him to rebound.

THE FIELD: Four Who Have History

Jerry Kelly – He played well last week and I see a Top 10 from him as the defending champion.

Charles Howell III – History and hot. The only times he’s played in this tourney he has been T2 in 09, T2 in 06, 59 in ’05 and T5 in ’04. He’s a no-brainer.

Stuart Appleby – He’s probably played this course the most on Tour. He finished T4 in 06 and has a couple other Top 25′s.

David Toms – He’s a Louisiana boy with a T5 here last year. His last start was a T14 at Augusta and hopefully he’s healed up well.

FINAL FOUR: Steve Marino, Charles Howell III, Jerry Kelly, David Toms

Picks were tough this week. Sadly, I’m not giving a spot to Ames in the Final Four. Also, if Stricker and Poulter were still in it, they would be locks. Let’s hope for the best!

Pick with your heart,

D.