My "5 to Watch" at THE PLAYERS

It's time to make picks for the most unpredictable of the PGA Tour's big events -- namely, THE PLAYERS.



Because TPC Sawgrass doesn't favor one type of player over another, saying that anybody can win is an understatement. This is truly a level playing field, as long as a player's game is in shape. (Hell, Stewart Cink could win this week and he's not even playing!)

So here are my "5 to Watch," all of whom have as good a chance as anybody.

• No picks list at this course is complete without Sergio Garcia. If there's any player who can truly say this course fits his game, it's El Niño. With a win and three other Top3s in the last eight years, you can't go wrong by picking him.
• Although no one has ever defended at THE PLAYERS, if anyone can do it I think Rickie Fowler can. His game hasn't been bad over the last few weeks, just a little inconsistent. But Butch Harmon is on site so I suspect he can fix any problems that may pop up.
• I like Kevin Kisner to factor in again this year, even though nobody else seems to like his chances. Yes, his finishes haven't been that great over the last three months and he missed the cut at Quail Hollow. Still, he was in the playoff last year so he's got some good memories of Sawgrass. I think that may be just what he needs to get his game back in gear.
• Everybody seems to think Henrik Stenson needs to use his driver more, but guess what? Henrik's nasty 3-wood is probably all he needs to get another win at the PGA Tour's home course. Let's not forget that he won here in 2009.
• As for my flier... I'm taking James Hahn. After the emotional win at Quail Hollow this past week he might find it a bit harder to get up for this. But his game is solid right now and, let's face it, if you can handle eight straight missed cuts I'm sure you can handle a big win!

Yeah, I know. No Rory. No Jordan. No Jason. No Danny Willett. But Jason's short game is a bit suspect right now and I expect to see some rust from the other three.

If I had to pick only one of my 5, I'd probably go with Rickie... but only by a slight margin. This is the most democratic course on the Tour, after all.