A Quick Nine: Transitions Championship

Each week during the official PGA Tour season, CBSSports.com's golf writers identify nine players to watch in three distinct categories -- favorites, tweeners and longshots. The picks are based on a combination of homework, guesswork and just plain instinct.

Note: Odds courtesy of Las Vegas Hilton Sports Book and/or Golfodds.com.

This Week: Transitions Championship

Favorites
Elling's Picks		Devonport's Picks
	Steve Stricker World No. 2 once lived in Tampa area and was T4 and T14 in his last two starts here. Odds: 15/1		Steve Stricker Always in the mix, Stricker is first in the tour's all-around ranking and FedEx Cup race points. Odds: 15/1
	Padraig Harrington Visited White House on Wednesday to meet the president. We're picking him to win, anyway. Odds: 20/1		Vijay Singh My lovely shoulder therapist told me to pick Vijay this week, and I think she might be on to something. He's playing well again and won here in 2004. Odds: 20/1
	Retief Goosen Careful. Has two wins and two MCs here since 2003. Has been erratic this year. Odds: 25/1		Stewart Cink Hasn't done much since his T5 in the SBS Championship, but has two top-three finishes in last three trips here. Odds: 40/1

Under the Radar
Elling's Picks		Devonport's Picks
	Sean O'Hair Schitzo is the only way to describe him here: Three MCs and a win in his last four Tampa starts. Odds: 25/1		J.B. Holmes Four top-20s, including two top-threes, this season. Finished T8 here in 2007. Odds: 25/1
	John Senden Speaking of uneven, the Aussie has two T2s and an MC in his last three visits to Innisbrook. Odds: 50/1		Nick Watney Has four rounds in the 60s here last two years, but also has three rounds worse than 73. Worth a shot, for sure. Odds: 40/1
	K.J. Choi Choi won here in 2002 and '06. But he was second in Asia two weeks ago and is showing signs of life again. Odds: 30/1		Rod Pampling Has shown some better form lately and has three top-10s in six trips to Tampa. Odds: 60/1

Dark Horses for Courses
Elling's Picks		Devonport's Picks
	Charles Howell III Has finished in top six at Innisbrook twice in last three years. Needs win to make the Masters. Odds: 30/1		Jason Dufner Final-round 65 at Doral has me thinking he might have figured something out. T17 here last season. Odds: 60/1
	Jonathan Byrd Quiet and steady pro has finished in the top 12 in three of his last four starts in Tampa. Odds: 60/1		Bubba Watson Price seems too good to be true for a guy with this much talent. T19 here in 2007 is only weekend he's seen in four trips. Odds: 100/1
	Stuart Appleby In terrible slump after poor 2009, but was T8 and T10 in his last two Tampa visits. Odds: no line		D.J. Trahan Playing nice golf lately with four top-20s in his last five outings. Has opened with 68 in last two visits to Innisbrook. Odds: no line

Elling's pick proficiency		Devonport's pick proficiency
	Top 10s: 24-for-90 (26.7%) Winners: 5		Top 10s: 19-for-90 (21.1%) Winners: 3