Fantasy Golf Picks

I’m giving myself points for picking winners.  Hopefully my picks can help you win your fantasy golf league this season.  My goal is to get to 111 points for the season, or the equivlant of picking a Top 3 finisher or better each week, based on the point scale below:

Winner = 10 points

2nd Place = 5 points

3rd Place = 3 points

Top 10 = 1 point

Leaderboard

Please post your picks along with me and we will be keeping score all season long.  Winner will receive a prize to be determined.  Just post your picks below in the comments section.

(Busy busy week for me, so this is the short and sweet edition)

Last Week:  Congrats are in order for our first weekly winner of the year.  Craig G. not only picked the winner in Brandt Snedeker for 10 points but added a Top 10 for D.A. Points for a total of 11 points.  Not bad for the first week.  Nice pick’n Craig!  You’re gonna make me have to step up my game.

All in all not a bad week for me.  I got 1 point for Hunter Mahan’s T8 and a near miss with Bubba Watson (finished T13).  So even though Ben Crane missed the cut I will give myself a small pat on the back for getting points last week.  That’s 4 total points on the year and I will take 2nd place thus far.

This Week:  One of my favorite tournaments of the season is here!  The Waste(d) Management Phoenix open, the rowdy rauckus crowd in Phoenix is always entertaining to watch, and that this tournament (usually) falls on SuperBowl weekend is a bonus  (Still stings a bit that my 9ers aren’t playing, a 49ers/Patriots matchup would have been EPIC).  

Mark Wilson, already a winner this year, defends in Arizona this week.  And though not a stellar field, there’s still some names in attendance.  Expect a lot of birdies, the average winning score the last three years is -16.  And don’t forget to brush up on the Waste(d) Management Phoenix Open drinking game rules.

Brandt Snedeker

There is no better play this week than Sneds, coming off a win, he could very easily repeat the feat at TPC Scottsdale.  Brandt has two Top 10s here since 2007 including a T8 in 2011.  Lost in Kyle Stanley’s epic meltdown last week (what?, you thought  I would not mention it) was how money Snedeker was in the final round, with 6 birdies and only 1 bogey.  He usually saves his best for last, but if Brandt can stay hot in the early going we could be looking at an early golfer of the year candidate.  I will (all but) guarantee at least a Top 10 this week.

Camilo Villegas

Another pick I’m feeling good about this week, Camilo Villegas may soon return to his 2008 form that saw him suprise the golf world.  Spiderman struggled early in 2011 before finishing with three Top 10s in his last four starts.  2012 is looking good so far too, with two straight Top 25 finishes.  Not counting his withdrawal last year at TPC Sawgrass, he has a Top 10 and one missed cut in three years.  With that course history and his recent good play, another lock for a Top 10.

Vijay Singh

Vij is far removed from his world #1 ranking, definitley on the down slope of his career, but he still has a win or two left in him and some extra motivation.  Still trying to qualify for the WGC-Match Play, Singh can punch his ticket with a Top 10 this week.  After a brutal 2010, Vij bounced back with bonus points in three events last year (one of them a 3rd place finish in Phoenix) and finished just outside the Top 10 last week.  If he can get the putter going again as in the olden days of Singh, he could be a “sleeper” pick for the Masters.  But I won’t get ahead of myself.  Look for him to contend all week.

Please post your picks along with me and we will be keeping score all season long.  Winner will receive a prize to be determined.  Just post your picks below in the comments section.

Fantasy Golf Picks

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Last Week

Bubba Watson fended off fellow lefty Phil Mickelson to earn a one-stroke victory in the Farmers Insurance Open. Watson notched his second career Tour victory by leading the field in both driving distance and greens in regulation. On the European Tour, Paul Casey picked up his 11th career win in the inaugural Volvo Golf Champions event.

My picks were a mixed bag. Tiger Woods had a pair of good opening rounds until disappearing on the weekend. Nick Watney started an uneventful three days until shooting up the leaderboard with a tournament-best 9-under 63 on Sunday to finish T6. Ben Crane and Kevin Sutherland finished T14. Ryuji Imada opened with an impressive round of 67, but totally came apart with an 81 to miss the cut. Rickie Fowler, my Must Start, started things off with a 65 only to back it up further and further as the tournament went on.

This Week

The Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is draws the largest attendance on Tour thanks to a party-like atmosphere. In particular, 16th hole of The Stadium Course is a fan favorite because of the unique grandstands that surround it. Additions like The Birds Nest and the Saturday Green Out, where fans are encouraged to sport all-green outfits, also help keep the scene lively.

Phil Mickelson

The biggest name is this week’s field is also a top play coming off last week’s runner-up performance. At Scottsdale, Lefty owns two wins in 20 career starts, the most recent coming in 2005. Since then, Mickelson owns a second-place result and another top-10 finish while missing two cuts. Last year, Mickelson’s four top fives came in a span of six tournaments. A similar hot streak could be brewing early in 2011.

Dustin Johnson

In 2009, Johnson’s only Scottsdale start, he missed the cut. However, he’s starting off 2011 in fine fashion with finishes of T9 and T3. Two events into the season, Johnson is third in birdies, sixth in driving distance, ninth in scoring average and 11th in greens. In those eight combined rounds, he’s yet to go over par. DJ should offer more of the same in the AZ desert.

Kevin Na

Since 2005, Na owns three top-five finishes at Scottsdale in six starts. While he missed last week’s cut, Na had previously shot nine straight rounds of sub-70 golf. Currently ranked34th or 35th in putting, birdies and scoring averages, Na is a fine mid-level option to strongly consider when rounding out your squad.

Jhonattan Vegas

The 26-year-old rookie is currently atop the FedEx Cup standings thanks to winning the Bob Hope Classic and a T3 in last week’s Farmers Insurance Open. In those nine combined rounds, Vegas has yet to see a round of 70 or over. When you’re hot, you’re hot. Look to Vegas to keep rolling in his first Scottsdale start.

David Toms

In nine starts at Scottsdale since 2000, Toms has only two finishes outside of the top 20, both of which are missed cuts in the last three years. While there are some risks with Toms, his overall track record at the course is quite good and makes him a worthy reserve option. Toms capped off 2010 with two top fives and four top 15s in six starts, including two Fall Series events.

Must Start – Bill Haas

In three starts this season, Haas owns three top-10 finishes. He owns a single top 10 at Scottsdale from 2008, but has missed three other cuts in four career starts since 2005. Haas currently sits fifth in All-Around Ranking and ninth in both total driving and greens. Outside of Matt Kuchar, no one has started the season off hotter than Haas. His Scottsdale struggles could be nothing more than an afterthought by the weekend.

For my entire Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Golf lineup, follow me on Twitter @ericmcclung

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AimPoint PGA Tour Picks

Fantasy Golf Picks

I’m giving myself points for picking winners.  Hopefully my picks can help you win your fantasy golf league this season.  My goal is to get to 111 points for the season, or the equivlant of picking a Top 3 finisher or better each week, based on the point scale below:

Winner = 10 points

2nd Place = 5 points

3rd Place = 3 points

Top 10 = 1 point

2010 Fantasy Golf Picks Total:  22 Points

2010 Fantasy Golf Picks Weekly Average:  3.14 Points

Think you can pick better?  Leave a comment with your 3 picks for the 2010 Waste Management Phoenix Open.  If you Beat The Expert in any week you will win a FREE 2010 Rotoff Golf Draft Kit (a $9.99 value) with one possible Grand Prize winner at the end of the FedEx Cup season.  See here for official BTE rules.

Congrats to Brad who was the only one with points last week.  He picked Paul Casey to come out of the Snead bracket and got 5 points for his 2nd place finish.  In two weeks Brad has a 1st and 2nd place finish.  Will you be picking a 3rd place golfer this week?  For your skills you win a free Rotoff Golf Draft Kit.  Please contact me through the site for access instructions.

Beat the Expert Leaderboard

Last Week:

What a crazy week.  No Tiger (well not on the course anyway), no Phil, no #1 seeds after round two and no Americans in the final four…er……..final eight.  Until the Sergio and Poulter feud on Saturday there was little drama and not much following.  Match Play is always a weird animal that hardly lives up to the hpye.  Although the first round is always one of the best golf days of the year.

Even weirder then the tournament itself is trying to pick how it will all play out.  Of my projected bracket winners none made it to the sweet sixteen.  Stricker was out in the 1st round in one of the bigger upsets in the tournaments history.  Ogilvy, ZJ and McIlroy all crapped out in the 2nd round.  Luckily I did not fall to far on the BTE LB for suffering my third shutout of the season.

This week:

Many months ago it seemed I may be in attendance for this week’s party in the desert but it was not to be (I’ll get out there to visit one of these days Mike and Kari, miss you both).  But just because I won’t be drinking beer on the 16th hole this Saturday doesn’t mean I won’t be drinking beer at the Hart while watching the party on TV.

 The West Coast swing comes to an end in Phoenix this weekend with the newly named Waste Management Phoenix Open (formerly the FBR Open).   This event is notorius for drawing the biggest (and most tipsy) crowds on the PGA Tour.   With more then 70 years of history it’s one of the oldest active events on Tour.  And while I’m tempted to take Phil this week (I’m actually tempted to take Phil every week he’s in the field) I’m going with something a little different.

1. Robert Allenby

2001, the same year as the space oddyssey, was the last time Mr. Allenby won on the PGA Tour.  It’s an oddity in itself.  Since that last victory he has forty eight Top 10s.  Coming off an early exit in last week’s Match Play, Allenby has a good track record in Phoenix with only one missed cut in seven starts including a T2 in 2000 (a whole year before the space oddyssey).  He did not play this event last year but with two Top 10s under his belt in just three starts in 2010 you can bet Allenby will be in the mix this weekend.

 2. Camilo Villegas

I think I mention this every time Villegas comes up.  A streaky player to this point in his career, when he is putting he is very hard to beat.  That his putter came to life last weekend enroute to a 3rd place finish in Match Play should not be taken lightly.  Camilo has missed half the cuts here in four starts but had success in 2006 with a T2.  It’s only his second start on the PGA Tour this year, as he’s been spending more time on the European Tour.  With three Top 20s in his last three events worldwide there is no better time to consider Spiderman. 

3. Kevin Na

After two straight Top 10s at Bob Hope and the Northern Trust, Na struggled on the weekend at Pebble beach with back to back 74s.  Still, two Top 10s in four starts on the West Coast is setting up for a career year for Na.  And it only gets better this week where Kevin has three Top 10s in four starts and no missed cuts.  This is a golden opportunity for Na to get his first career PGA Tour victory.

Rotoff Golf Bonus:

 The 2010 Waste(d) Management Phoenix Open Drinking Game:

For every eagle donate $4 to your bartender or host for another drink 

For every mention of Tiger Woods take a sip

For every mention (or highlight) of Tiger Woods HIO on 16 take a chug

For every mention of Phil Mickelson’s clubs take a drink

For every mention of Phil Mickelson’s ASU ties take a chug

For every mention of the attendance take a drink

For every mention of drunk patrons take a sip

If you see a patron drinking take a drink

When a drunk patron yells “Get in the Hole” take a social drink

When you’re crawling on the floor take a cab home

AimPoint PGA Tour Picks

Fantasy Golf Preview

I’m giving myself points for picking winners.  Hopefully my picks can help you win your fantasy golf league this season.  My goal is to get to 80 points for the season, or the equivlant of picking a Top 3 finisher or better each week.

Winner = 10 points

2nd Place = 5 points

3rd Place = 3 points

Top 10 = 1 point

2009 Fantasy Golf Preview Total:  16 Points

2009 Fantasy Golf Preview Weekly Average:  5.3 Points

Last week: 

Got shut out last week in a wild tournament for scoring.  Congrats to Pat Perez for his first PGA Tour win.  -33?  Are you kidding me?  Props to the Golf Channel for improving on their Bob Hope coverage, people really do tune in to watch golfers and not celebrities golfing.

This week:

1. Phil Mickelson

How can you not go with Lefty this week?  TPC Scottsdale is his home course and he has ten Top 10s here, including 2 wins, since 1994.  There is a lot of talk about Phil being on the down side of his career.  As a Phil fan it’s hard for me to be objective about this.  I’d like to think that Phil has a few more major wins left in him.  One thing is for sure, it’s time for him to start taking advantage of Tiger’s absence.  Look for a Sunday contention this week from Phil and at least a Top 10 finish.

2. Stephen Ames

Ames shot a final round 63 last Sunday and finished T5 at the Bob Hope.  Just two weeks ago it was Zach Johnson who had an awesome low final round and won the following week.  Not a rocket science formula I know, but something to note.  Ames does have four CUTS here in eight starts and has never finished in the Top 10, however he is putting lights out which bodes well for him this week on the firm greens.  Expect a second straight Top 10 (or better) for Ames at the FBR Open.

3. Kevin Streelman

You may remember Streelman’s Saturday pairing with Tiger at last year’s Buick Invitational, almost one year ago.  Overall Streelman put together a solid rookie season in 2008 with three Top 10s, including the 54 hole lead at The Barclays.  Streelman has only played this event once, a CUT in 2005, so nothing about his performance here indicates he will play well.  I’m going purely on gut with this pick.  Take it or leave it.

Wow.  As great as Tiger is, he can be a buzzkill sometimes.  I didn’t even watch last Sunday’s golf coverage.  The tournament was won on Friday.  Still, tying Arnie for 4th on the all time PGA Win list is nothing to sneeze at, and in almost half the time.  Amazing.  Aaaaa…………….CHOO!!!

 Bless you.

If you read my 2008 season preview you will note that the FBR Open is one of my favorite events.  The stadium seating at TPC Scottsdale makes for a rock concert feel and the roar of the crowd will no doubt pump up the players, as they are expecting 100,000+ people over the weekend.  The FBR Open is truly a party and I’m looking forward to watching the party take place this weekend as they tee off on the par 3 16th hole.

FBR Open
TPC Scottsdale – Scottsdale, Arizona

Last year Aaron Baddeley birdied three of his last four holes for the comeback win over (Oregon native and Scottsdale local) Jeff Quinney.  It was a disappointing colapse for Quinney who looked poised to win his first PGA Tour event, but bogeyed two of his last three holes. 

The key stat to watch this week is putting.  Almost every winner of this event in this decade has finished in the top 10 in putting for the week.  Two names currently at the top of the Putts per Round list that could contend this week are Charlie Wi (four of five rounds in the 60’s at the Bob Hope) and Doug LaBelle II (two Top 20’s in two starts on the young season).  Of course they’ll have to contend with Lefty who has won here twice (last coming in 2005) and considers this his home course.  If Phil can master his putter this week he may run away with much like Tiger did last weekend. 

Hopefully there’ll be a reason to watch this Sunday, though it will be hard to beat the drama of last year’s event.

Wont Win:  Vijay, Tiger (a stretch, I know)

Could Win:  Phil, David Toms, Rory Sabbatini

Sleepers:  Doug LaBelle II, Charlie Wi