Fantasy Golf Picks: Humana Challenge

This week the PGA TOUR returns to the PGA West Nicklaus course at La Quinta Country Club for the Humana Challenge (formerly known as the Bob Hope Classic). Last year, Jhonathan Vegas won the first of two titles in 2011 to spark some talk of him being the next superstar to take the PGA by storm. Didn't really work out that way towards the end of 2011, of course, but let's see if lightening can strike twice this week. Click the jump to see my fantasy golf picks for the Humana Challenge. A List

Starter: Matt Kuchar; Bench: Jhonny Vegas

Kuchar is a solid pick this week due to a solid track record in this tournament (including consecutive top-10's in this event over the past two years) so I won't be too surprised to find him on top of the leaderboard on Sunday. Vegas is the defending champion, and while he made it to the final round last week in Hawaii his early play in 2012 has been spotty at best. He may be a bit of a stretch this week, but then again nobody even knew who this kid was this time last year.

B List

Starters: Bill Haas, Anthony Kim; Bench: Harrison Frazar, Bryce Molder

Hass is going to have a strong week in La Quinta, assuming his track record in this event holds up this week. He won this event in 2010 and finished runner-up last season to Vegas. There may not be a more confident pick this week, so he's in my starting line-up. Anthony Kim looks to have a break-out season (again) in 2012 thanks to improved health and longer hair. Harrison Frazar seems to be playing the best golf of his life starting at the end of 2011, and I would not be surprised to seem him contend in a major this year if he keeps this pace up. Molder is a bit of a sleeper pick for me this week, and I will admit it was simply based on my love of this guy's swing and attitude.

C List

Starter: Carl Pettersson; Bench: Bud Cauley

Pettersson played well last week in Hawaii, giving eventual winner Johnson Wagner and the rest of the field a  little bit of a scare towards the weekend. He seems to play his best golf early in the year, so I'll ride this hot-hand for another tournament this week. Bud Cauley is going to be a superstar, that much is already evident. His first career PGA TOUR start last week earned him a top-30 finish in Hawaii despite showing some nerves on the weekend. Due to the later cut-line (Saturday) this week, the youngster might have more time to relax on the course in preparation for a Sunday finish.

Fantasy Golf Picks: 2012 Hyundai Tournament of Champions

The 2012 PGA TOUR season kicks off this week at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at the lovely Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort. Last year was a weak year for yours truly in the Fantasy Golf arena, so let's try to get this party started right this season right off the tee. Click the jump to see my fantasy golf picks for the 2012 Hyundai Tournament of Champions. A List

Starter: Webb Simpson; Bench: Keegan Bradley

Simpson had an unbelievably strong year on TOUR last season, and his individual play towards the end of the year was only outmatched by Luke Donald down the stretch. While he hasn't had the best career thus far on Hawaii courses, Simpson looks to keep the momentum going this weekend. Rookie of the Year Keegan Bradley also makes his 2012 debut this week, thanks to his victory at the PGA Championship in 2011. Can this young man continue his strong play at the Hyundai?

B List

Starters: Mark Wilson, Bubba Watson; Bench: Scott Stallings, Gary Woodland

Mark Wilson played the best year of his career on TOUR last season, boasting two wins by the middle of February, including one in Hawaii at the Sony Open last January. Bubba Watson also had two wins last year, and finished tied for 25th at the 2011 Hyundai. Both men seem to be "feast or famine" when it comes to tournament play, but their strong showings early in the year make them my starters for the first tournament. Scott Stallings was your 2011 Greenbrier champion, but didn't have much luck throughout the rest of the year. Gary Woodland can hit the ball a country mile which helped him capture the Transitions Championship and maintain a seriously consistent finish to 2011. Either man will be helpful coming off the bench this week.

C List

Starter: Jonathan Byrd; Bench: Ben Crane

Jonathan Byrd returns to defend his crown at the 2012 Hyundai, where he finished at an impressive 24-under par. Byrd had a relatively consistent year in 2011, carding two additional top-10 finishes at the Wells-Fargo and the Barclays. Ben Crane snuck into the tournament field with an October victory at the McGlardy Classic. Crane earned over $1.6 million in prize winnings thanks to his above-average season, which included 4 top-10's.

(Note: the above article was originally published by the author for WaggleRoom.com)

2012 Fantasy Golf Rankings

It's that time of the year again, fellow fantasy sports enthusiasts, as the 2012 Fantasy Golf season is set to tee off next week at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in beautiful Kapalua, Hawaii. Last season saw the resurgence of many PGA TOUR and European golfers up the fantasy golf rankings, and the crowning of a #1-ranked fantasy golfer for this upcoming year. Click the jump for a full listing of the top 20 fantasy golfers for this upcoming 2012 season,, as ranked by the PGA TOUR website (and some comments by me).

1) Rory McIlroy - the 22-year old phenom is on top of the golfing world and has a renewed PGA TOUR membership, which means more tournaments in the United States and more chances for you to rack up fantasy stats.

2) Luke Donald - the 2011 Player of the Year and current OWGR #1 is back to as much noise as possible for fantasy golf teams everywhere. As the PGATOUR.com website states, Donald is the honey badger of the PGA.

3) Webb Simpson - arguably the best American-born golfer at this moment from a fantasy golf perspective, Simpson finished last season on a hotstreak that will undoubtedly carry-over into 2012.

4) Jason Day

5) Nick Watney - wants to make me out to be a liar about Webb Simpson being the "best American fantasy golfer".

6) Adam Scott - long putters, annoying caddies and actress relationships couldn't keep this Australian superstar from recapturing his game last year, complete with his first win in a World Golf Championship.

7) Dustin Johnson - he thinks Nick Watney and Webb Simpson are sallies.

8) Matt Kuchar

9) Tiger Woods - his win at Chevron probably didn't mean a whole lot for everyone else, but it certainly did for him. And that's trouble for the competition.

10) Bill Haas

11) Lee Westwood - Also renewed his PGA TOUR membership, so look for him on more fantasy rosters throughout the season. Could make a serious run at the World #1 again.

12) Steve Stricker - if he can stay healthy, he'll continue to be a staple on my fantasy roster for many majors and any tournament in the Midwest.

13) Hunter Mahan - looks to be a force in 2012. Five consecutive years in the top-30 in earnings.

14) Aaron Baddeley - Strong iron play helped him make a bit of a comeback in 2011. Even with the Stack N' Tilt. *Barf*

15) Jim Furyk

16) Bubba Watson - I'm a little surprised Bubba isn't ranked higher, but then again it kind of makes sense from a fantasy points perspective. He's about as consistent as rain in Nevada.

17) Phil Mickelson - Phil had an off-year from a fantasy points perspective last season, hence the low ranking. His health seems to be slightly better now, which could help him regain his fantasy dominance quickly.

18) Keegan Bradley - The 2011 ROY brings his strong iron play into a ton of tournament fields in 2011. He may be a regular start for me in the majors. Look for big things from Bradley this year. And more visors.

19) K.J. Choi - Somebody needs to tell Choi that he's on some kind of hotstreak. If he believes it, maybe he can help me out a little more on my fantasy roster next year.

20) Anthony Kim - He has to have a better year. Has to. It is almost impossible to have a worse year that this talent did in 2011, all things considered.

(Note: The above article was originally published by the author for WaggleRoom.com)