ESPN Golf Experts' picks: McGladrey Classic

Each week of the season, our experts share their insights into which players fit the criteria for our four categories: Horse for the Course (a golfer who knows the track inside and out), Birdie Buster (a guy who could take it low), Super Sleeper (a player who could unexpectedly contend) and Winner.

This week, the PGA Tour heads to Sea Island, Georgia, and the McGladrey Classic.

The McGladrey Classic

- Defending champion: Chris Kirk

- Tee times, leaderboard | Experts' picks

- Photos from the McGladrey Classic, golf tours

- Venue: Sea Island Resort (Seaside course); par-70; 7,005 yards

- Location: Sea Island, Ga.

- TV coverage: Thursday-Sunday, 2-5 p.m. ET, Golf Channel

- Monday qualifiers: Justin Lower, Mark Silvers, Patrick Newcomb, Andrew Pope

- Field changes: Mark Anderson (in), Spencer Levin (out); Ben Curtis (in), Charlie Beljan (out); Roberto Castro (in), Tom Gillis (out)

- Payout: A 132-man field with winner taking $1,008,000 of a $5.6 million purse

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Horse for the Course

Michael Collins, ESPN.com senior golf analyst: Webb Simpson

You think the backlash from the Ryder Cup has served as some motivation for Simpson? Yeah, me too. After a seventh-place finish at the last week's event, he comes to a place where the last three times, he's finished no worse than 12th. If he doesn't win this week, expect him to be close.

Farrell Evans, ESPN.com senior golf writer: Tommy Gainey

Since shooting 60 at Sea Island in the final round of 2012 McGladrey Classic, "Two Gloves" has missed the cut in 27 of 55 events. His great memories here should lift him past any negative feelings he might presently have about his game.

Bob Harig, ESPN.com senior golf writer: Matt Kuchar

This is a home game for Kuchar, who lives at Sea Island and has played the McGladrey three times without shooting over par.

Kevin Maguire, ESPN.com senior golf editor: Matt Kuchar

In 12 rounds played at the McGladrey Classic in his career, Kuchar has been in red figures 10 times, with the other two scores coming in at even par. A T-7 finish last year proved he surely can win his hometown event.

Birdie Buster

Collins: Charles Howell III

Another guy who loves this course and has played all four times this tournament has been played here without finishing outside the top 32. Finishing with three straight rounds in the 60s in Las Vegas definitely won't hurt the confidence. Now if he can just get the thought of Augusta out of his head ...

Evans: Tony Finau

The 25-year-old PGA Tour rookie has had a tie for 12th and a tie for seventh in the first two events of the wraparound season. In eight rounds, he has just one over par score: a 73 in the second round at the Frys.com Open.

Harig: Webb Simpson

He's coming off a tie for fourth in his defense in Las Vegas and a strong final round that briefly had him tied for the lead.

Maguire: Adam Hadwin

The Canadian dropped a 63 in the final round in Las Vegas on Sunday and looks poised to have a breakout year in the big leagues. His 38 birdies are seventh on tour through the first two events of the new season.

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Collins: Andres Gonzales

Sure, he never got that practice round with Tiger he dreamed of on Twitter his rookie season of 2013. Of course that season he also only made three cuts all year. Things are different now having spent last season back on the Web.com Tour. This week at Sea Island will make three cuts in a row to start the year and equal his total top-10s from his rookie season ... one.

Evans: Corey Whitsett

The Houston native, former Alabama star and left-hander is in his first few months as a professional, but he will put a big tour game on display this week at Sea Island. Whitsett will be one of four former Alabama players in the field.

Harig: Charles Howell III

Wins lots of money, rarely contends, typically lurks. He's had two top-10s at the McGladrey and is coming off a tie for 18th in Las Vegas where he had back-to-back 67s on the weekend.

Maguire: Ben Curtis

In the field as the second alternate after Charlie Beljan withdrew, Curtis has never missed the cut at the McGladrey Classic.

Winner

Collins: Scott Brown

They say "play the hot hand" right? Well, starting off the year 12th and following it up with a 10th is warm enough for me to see where you're trending. And you aren't looking for your first win, and you finished fourth last year at this track, so you have a good memory of it.

Evans: Chris Kirk

After taking the Deutsche Bank Championship in September for his second victory in the 2013-14 wraparound season, the 29-year-old former Georgia Bulldog said that he wanted to earn his way onto the Ryder Cup team. By defending his title here at the McGladrey, he could send a strong message to U.S. Presidents Cup captain Jay Haas that he wants to be on his team that goes to South Korea next October.

Harig: Chris Kirk

Making his first start of the 2014-15 season, the defending champion had a strong finish to the last one, winning the Deutsche Bank and then tying for fourth at the Tour Championship. After a break, he gets to resume playing again at a place that kicked off a strong year.

Maguire: Daniel Summerhays

Summerhays has slowly improved his finish on the money list each of the last four years. After making the cut in his first two starts in the 2014-15 season, the McGladrey Classic just might be where he gets that first PGA Tour victory.