Expert Picks: Deutsche Bank Championship

• By Golf Channel Digital
• Aug 28, 2012 5:00 PM ET

This week the FedEx Cup playoffs continue with the Deutsche Bank Championship from TPC Boston. Webb Simpson defends the title he won last year in a playoff over Chez Reavie. Each week, a panel of experts will offer up their picks from four groups of players based on Golf Channel's new fantasy game, Fantasy Challenge. We will also keep track of their scores and standings. The panel consists of: senior writers Rex Hoggard, Randall Mell and Jason Sobel; contributors John Hawkins and Win McMurry; editorial director Jay Coffin; RotoWorld.com's Rob Bolton; "Morning Drive" host Gary Williams and staff writer Ryan Lavner.

Rex Hoggard

Group 1: Luke Donald: Experts say TPC Boston, all 7,214 yards of it, is a bomber's course, but the Englishman's record at the layout suggests otherwise. He's finished in the top 5 in his last two trips to Boston and could overtake Rory McIlroy atop the world ranking with a solid week.

Group 2: Dustin Johnson: Since he returned from injury, DJ has been solid and, although the deadline for points was two weeks ago, his tie for third last week at Bethpage would have lifted him to 12th on the U.S. Ryder Cup points list.

Group 3: Tim Clark: The South African has been as consistent as anyone the last few weeks, finishing T-15 (Canadian Open), T-11 (PGA Championship), second (Wyndham Championship) and T-10 (The Barclays). At 35th on the FedEx Cup points list he needs one more good week to secure his spot at East Lake.

Group 4: Brian Harman: The rookie's steady playoff climb began at the AT&T National with a T-11 finish and was solidified with last week's tie for fifth at The Barclays. He's vying to become just the fifth rookie to advance to the Tour Championship in the FedEx Cup era.

Ryan Lavner

Group 1: Jason Dufner: The Duf is rested, motivated and back on a track that suits him. In three starts at TPC Boston, he hasn't finished worse than 31st, including a T-2 in 2009. Expect the trend to continue this week, too.

Group 2: Brandt Snedeker: He's played seven events in a row, but fatigue won't be an issue with a potential Ryder Cup berth looming. Sneds deserves to be on the team based on his 2012 performance, and he'll prove it once again at TPC Boston, where he was T-3 a year ago.

Group 3: Tim Clark: The diminutive South African continues to play well - four consecutive events inside the top 15 - so there's no point in dropping him from the lineup now.

Group 4: Harris English: The Tour rookie finished in the top 10 in Greeensboro, then snuck inside the top 25 in his first playoff event at The Barclays. He's now over the $1 million mark in earnings, too. 

Win McMurry

Group 1: Justin Rose: Before last week's T-46 showing in New York, he had back-to-back top-five finishes. He doesn't have a great history here, but his ten top 25s this year have me optimistic that he can keep it going.

Group 2: Louis Oosthuizen: He's in great form as evidenced by his T-5 finish last week along with a fourth-place finish at Firestone. This is his first run in the playoffs and he could make a big statement.

Group 3: Vijay Singh: Started out hot at The Barclays before cooling on the weekend when greens got firm, but he has been in good form as of late with two top-10 finishes in the last month.

Group 4: Pat Perez: Opened with a 66 last week and had some fiery moments. He's had a couple finishes in the top 30 here since the playoffs began.

Jason Sobel

Group 1: Jason Dufner: The only player in this week's field coming off a bye week, Dufner should be refreshed and relaxed on a course where he's played well in the past.

Group 2: Brandt Snedeker: Needing one more solid week to impress Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III, this should be the perfect setting for him as it doesn't overly favor big bombers.

Group 3: Padraig Harrington: It would be bitter irony if Harrington, fresh from being left off the European Ryder Cup team, followed with a big week week in Boston.

Group 4: Graham DeLaet: His final-round 65 at Bethpage should vault DeLaet to bigger and better things in the very near future - which may even mean this week.

Rob Bolton

Group 1: Luke Donald: In a sea of dynamic talent, I'm going with one of the most consistent performers at a high level. Three top-10s in his last four starts. He's also posted top-three finishes the last two years at TPC Boston.

Group 2: Brandt Snedeker: Converging trends in play. Coming off a solo second at Bethpage and top-fives each of the last two years at the Deutsche Bank.

Group 3: Tim Clark: Hot stick alert. Four straight top-15s entering the week.

Group 4: Brian Harman: Coming off his first top 10 on the PGA Tour with a share of fifth at Bethpage for his fifth top-25 finish in seven starts. In his last 14 rounds, he's carded 65 or lower five times.