Expert Picks: AT&T Byron Nelson

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Retief Goosen & Tyrone Van Aswegen … No matter how many years it’s been since any of Goosen’s seven PGA TOUR victories, it’s like cutting a corner when a two-time U.S. Open champion lands on this page. However, he’s resorted to burning a career earnings exemption this season in advance of his 50th birthday next February, so consider granting a dispensation. He and his fellow South African tied for 14th place at last year’s Zurich with a field-low-tying 60 in alternate shot in the second round. Goosen was perfect on his own ball from 2013-2017 with a pair of T21s at TPC Louisiana and struts in on a confidence-building T20 at the Valero Texas Open where he recorded progressively lower rounds throughout the tournament. The 36-year-old TVA has been one of the busiest PGA TOUR members over the last two-and-a-half seasons, and he’s made his starts count in going 57-for-80 since 2015-16. En route to a T23 at Harbour Town two weeks ago, he ranked T9 in proximity to the hole on those tiny greens and led the field in scrambling. Seamus Power & David Hearn … The Irishman is no fool. He’s plucked a partner in Hearn who finished T22 (with fellow Canuck and currently sidelined Graham DeLaet) last year and went 7-for-7 with four top 25s in individual competition at TPC Louisiana prior to that. Hearn is weaving his way through 2017-18 on conditional status, but he’s connected for two top 20s, including a T16 on Sunday in San Antonio where he ranked T4 in proximity and T2 in par-5 scoring. Power has made only six of 14 cuts this season, only three of which went for a top 40 but all were top 20s. His T5 at Corales a month ago is a career-best. Hearn’s game off the tee sets the table, while Power’s short game gives them a chance. The expanse of TPC Louisiana helps mitigate their reverse weaknesses in alternate shot. J.J. Spaun & Sam Ryder … Unlike international team competition in which the captain can elect to modify his lineup for every session, teammates at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans are stuck with each other for both best-ball and alternate-shot formats. Partnerships usually fall into one of two categories – the quintessential blend of strength off the tee and finesse around and on greens, or the alignment of skill sets that caters to a seamless and arguably more valuable transition in alternate shot. These two present a blend of both. They’ll be vying for the field’s lead in greens in regulation and proximity to the hole, a potent combination in any shootout. Spaun is the better scorer, while Ryder is still coming into his own as a rookie. However, when he placed outright fifth at the Houston Open just four weeks ago, Ryder led the field in strokes gained: putting and ranked fourth in birdies-or-better percentage on the greens.

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