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David Toms has had a very strong season and a Byron Nelson Classic win could be the next step.

Birdie Chance
David Toms. First appearance since 2004. All that's missing from his superb season – five Top 10s – is a victory. His T-9 at THE PLAYERS included a third-round 77.
Projection: WIN

Charley Hoffman. Not only has he kept the pedal pressed firmly downward, he finished T-7 at this event last year. I know that gets a few of you giddy. This guy continues to play in a vacuum.
Projection: Top 10

Ben Crane. Statistically, he should contend more often, but his putter is too streaky to set and forget. He was 2nd in putting at THE PLAYERS, where he finished T-5 without breaking par the last three rounds. Finished 2nd way back in 2002, but hasn't cracked a Top 25 in five starts since. Besides, with the '07 redesign, last year's numbers are all that really matters if you're serious. (Crane missed last year's cut.)
Projection: Top 25

Briny Baird. Per my tweet, the nearest P.F. Chang's is 78 miles from my house, so I'm not about to travel for a free lettuce wrap courtesy of Baird's distance control. Thanks anyway. (Chang's didn't have Baird putt out. Good call.) Meanwhile, the track this week should fit his eye. The T-2 at the Heritage is a much better indicator than either forgettable result since.
Projection: Top 25

Steve Marino. Despite $748K in this year's bank account and a pair of Top 10s, he's been too quiet. Another solid ball-striker about whom you need not worry at a venue like this. In fact, if his distance control is on, this just might be his week to break through.
Projection: Top 10

EAGLE PUTT
Matt Weibring. Let's see … His dad, D.A., did the redesign. He lives in Dallas. And he's had three Top 25s in his last four starts, including a T-8 at Harbour Town. His confidence must be on the rise, and he's going to fly up the reshuffle in a month. He should be fine off the tee, so if you're a daily leaguer, monitor his iron play on Thursday before hopping aboard. (Incidentally, last week's EAGLE PUTT, Marc Leishman, finished T-5.)
Projection: Top 25

Hazard
Anthony Kim. If you've ever wondered the impact of winning on the PGA Tour and playing the WGCs ... Kim finished T-2 at the season-opening Mercedes-Benz, featuring a 33-man field. Then, he won one match at the WGC-Match Play. Those two bones netted $618,500.00. Even if he crashes and burns the rest of the year, no worries. He's exempt through 2011. Critics want to dump him in the same group with Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott. That's about right.
Projection: 26+

James Driscoll. Before last week's P-2, Driscoll had two career Top 10s. In the two weeks immediately after each, he finished MC and T-64, respectively. Respectfully, although he co-led last week's field in GIR, I could have hit half those greens. You can see them from space.
Projection: MC

Carl Pettersson. Ha! This cat should be entering his prime right about now. Instead, he's ventured into golf oblivion. With six missed cuts and a withdrawal in his last seven starts, I hope at least YOU'RE making money.
Projection: MC

Nathan Green. Sits 179th in GIR. When he cracks a Top 40, let me know. He's gone 13 straight without one.
Projection: MC

Colt Knost. Bit of a trap this week in that he's a local, still has a little cachet as a U.S. Amateur champ and the rookie leash is long. However, he's 139th in GIR and 168th in scrambling, as if the one-Top-40-in-12-starts resume wasn't proof enough. Alert to my league … this is probably the last start I give the rookie before springing him. Listen for the shuffling to the waiver wire. Not.
Projection: 26+

Short Game
UP … (in order of confidence)
Bob Estes. Four Top 20s in last six starts, including T-17 at La Cantera.

Scott Verplank. Riding stretch of nine consecutive cuts made that includes five Top 25s, including T-24 last week.

Shaun Micheel. Major Medical was T-24 at the Texas Open, T-18 at Quail Hollow. First consecutive Top 25s in just over two years.

Tim Petrovic. DNP at the Texas Open. Faded to a T-37 with a 75-75 weekend at THE PLAYERS. Entered Sawgrass with three straight Top 11s.

… & DOWN
Marc Turnesa. 14 starts. 10 MCs. 1 WD. Zero Top 25s. 0-for-5 entering the week.

Steve Elkington. 10 starts. 7 MCs. Zero Top 50s.

Notah Begay III. 10 starts. 8 MCs. Zero Top 25s. 0-for-4 entering the week.

D.J. Trahan. Has missed last four cuts (and five of last six). One more MC will tie a career-long drought. Finished his Texas Open MC with a second-round 67.

Kirk Triplett. Has missed his last four cuts, although shot a 68 in the second round at La Cantera.

Dean Wilson. Has missed his last four cuts. Cashed in just one of last seven starts, although it was a T-13 at Harbour Town, which could be a harbinger for this week.

Michael Bradley. Puerto Rico victory is his lone payday in five starts. Five of his seven rounds since are 75 or higher. Battling injuries.

Nicholas Thompson. Currently riding second three-tourney stretch of the year without a paycheck.

Peter Lonard. 0-for-3 coming in. Best finish of 14 is a T-46 at the Mayakoba.

Tim Wilkinson. Since the T-6 at Harbour Town, has missed three straight cuts.