Dean and DeLuca Invitational: Top 5 sleeper picks

Will we see an unexpected name rise to the occasion at this week’s Dean and DeLuca Invitational?

The Dean and DeLuca Invitational is one of the PGA TOUR’s storied events — so what’s the deal with this week’s field? The winner will receive just 50 Official World Golf Ranking points: a hefty sum, but no higher than the prize for events like the Sony Open in Hawaii or the Wells Fargo Championship.

Well, there are a couple of reasons behind this. For one thing, the European Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship, is also being staged this week, so many PGA TOUR  stars who hold dual membership are toiling on the other side of the pond. For another, today’s game has become dominated by long hitters, and Colonial Country Club is a course that tends to reward accuracy over power. When you’re trying to plot your schedule just right in order to peak for the U.S. Open, you’re not going to mess with an event that doesn’t play to your strengths.

All of this means a higher chance of a lesser-known or struggling player rising up and taking this week’s event. Without further ado, let’s jump in. Here are five intriguing sleeper picks who could surprise us at the Dean and DeLuca Invitational. Each player’s current position in the world rankings is listed next to his name.