Fantasy Aces: The Heritage
JEFF BABINEAU
Best Bet: Jim Furyk
Stayed in contention at Augusta well into Sunday, and knows he’s getting closer to returning to the winner’s circle. As everyone else decompresses at Harbour Town, he’ll keep working.
Ace Up My Sleeve: Boo Weekley
Really, how do you lay off a guy who has won back-to-back titles at the Verizon? He seems as comfortable sporting that plaid jacket as he does in camouflage.
Last Week's Best Bet: Padraig Harrington (T-35)
Last Week's Ace: Zach Johnson (MC)
Standing: 1st
JIM MCCABE
Best Bet: Jim Furyk
For much of the Masters, Furyk played as well as anyone. Shockingly, it was the putter that let him down on Sunday, but he’s too attractive a pick this week. Not only does he play well here (five top 15 finishes in his last six visits to Harbour Town, including two seconds), but he’s a great bounce-back player and one of the game’s most consistent entries.
Ace Up My Sleeve: Boo Weekley
He’s failed to break 70 in 13 consecutive rounds, so why pick him? On the hope that his game will be jump-started at a place where he’s won two years in a row and shot in the 60s seven of eight times. Something has to get the Boo man going; hopefully a comfortable environment will.
Last Week's Best Bet: Tiger Woods (T-6)
Last Week's Ace: Zach Johnson (MC)
Standing: 2nd
SEAN MARTIN
Best Bet: Kevin Na
I’m sure you’re looking for an explanation behind this pick. Well, Na has finished in the top 25 in seven of nine starts this year, and hasn’t finished worse than 19th in his past four starts. He finished tied for 17th at last year’s Heritage and fourth in ‘07. So, instead of picking Furyk like everyone else, I’m going to go with Na.
Ace Up My Sleeve: Woody Austin
He hasn’t played great this year, but Austin deserves some credit for making the cut in all seven starts. Plus, he’s played pretty well at the Heritage, a course that demands accuracy. In the past seven years, he’s finished 32nd or better six times, including four top-25s and a playoff loss in ‘03.
Last Week's Best Bet: Tiger Woods (T-6)
Last Week's Ace: Fred Couples (MC)
Standing: 3rd
ERIC SODERSTROM
Best Bet: Jim Furyk
Disappointed with Sunday finish at the Masters, Furyk bounces back at a place where he’s been runner-up twice since 2005, and fourth last year.
Ace Up My Sleeve: Dustin Johnson
After top 30 at Augusta National, former Coastal Carolina star will put on show for somewhat home crowd.
Last Week's Best Bet: Padraig Harrington (T-35)
Last Week's Ace: Andres Romero (49)
Standing: 5th
LANCE RINGLER
Best Bet: Jim Furyk
I like guys a week after they were in the mix at a major, but came up short. Jim Furyk is that guy and it does not hurt one bit that he has played very well at Harbour Town recently. Furyk has placed in the top four in three of his last four trips to this event and he is the second-best player in the field this week according to the Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index.
Ace Up My Sleeve: Charles Howell III
I am still waiting for that sign from Charles Howell III that he’s reached the next level. This week would be a nice place for Howell to do that. He has a pair of top-20s in three starts. He could be your guy this week.
Last Week's Best Bet: Robert Karlsson (MC)
Last Week's Ace: Zach Johnson (MC)
Standing: 7th
JEFF RUDE
Best Bet: Jim Furyk
Harbour Town suits his fairways-and-greens style. Played well for a long time in Augusta.
Ace Up My Sleeve: Zach Johnson
A lot of people were picking as their sleeper at the Masters. Maybe everybody was a week off.
Last Week's Best Bet: Geoff Ogilvy (T-15)
Last Week's Ace: Zach Johnson (MC)
Standing: 6th
ALEX MICELI
Best Bet: Camilo Villegas
Villegas finished 13th at Augusta and fifth two weeks earlier at the CA Championship. Harbour Town isn’t known as a bomber’s course, but he’s fared well here, finishing seventh last year.
Ace Up My Sleeve: Zach Johnson
Johnson may have missed the cut at Augusta, but don’t let one bad round deter you. He’s already won this year (Sony Open) and finished third at Bay Hill. Johnson finished sixth in the ‘07 Heritage.
Last Week's Best Bet: Phil Mickelson (5)
Last Week's Ace: Vijay Singh (T-30)
Standing: 4th
Field based on Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index:
2. Robert Allenby
7. Jim Furyk
8. Luke Donald
10. Camilo Villegas
14. Paul Casey
15. Justin Leonard
20. Briny Baird
21. Aaron Baddeley
27. Stewart Cink
28. Tim Clark
31. D.J. Trahan
35. Ernie Els
36. Ken Duke
38. Scott Verplank
40. Jeev M. Singh
41. Carl Pettersson
43. Davis Love III
44. Kevin Na
45. Charlie Wi
47. Brian Gay
49. Nick O'Hern
51. Charley Hoffman
53. Mark Wilson
54. Woody Austin
55. Lucas Glover
58. Steve Marino
60. Dean Wilson
62. Rory McIlroy
64. Boo Weekley
66. Ben Crane
67. Charles Howell III
69. Kevin Streelman
70. Zach Johnson
72. Brendon de Jonge
74. Bart Bryant
75. Bob Tway
76. Mathew Goggin
78. Heath Slocum
79. Rory Sabbatini
83. Michael Allen
84. Robert Garrigus
86. John Senden
87. Matt Kuchar
91. Bob Estes
93. Trevor Immelman
94. Steve Elkington
95. John Mallinger
98. Brett Quigley
100. Tim Herron
101. John Rollins
103. Brian Davis
105. Greg Owen
106. Dudley Hart
109. Joe Ogilvie
114. Tom Pernice, Jr.
115. Michael Letzig
116. Bo Van Pelt
118. Jason Bohn
120. Rod Pampling
124. George McNeill
125. Tommy Armour III
126. Greg Chalmers
127. Jonathan Byrd
128. Corey Pavin
130. Steve Flesch
134. Dustin Johnson
135. Jeff Klauk
137. Chris DiMarco
139. Tom Lehman
143. Bill Lunde
144. Webb Simpson
145. Bill Haas
150. James Nitties
153. Billy Mayfair
154. Glen Day
155. Fredrik Jacobson
156. Vaughn Taylor
161. Brandt Snedeker
162. Todd Hamilton
166. Matt Weibring
167. Ryan Palmer
170. Scott Piercy
176. Cameron Beckman
184. Jerry Kelly
185. Johnson Wagner
193. Parker McLachlin
200. Tim Wilkinson
202. Jeff Quinney
211. Troy Matteson
216. Chris Stroud
228. Peter Lonard
236. Chez Reavie
237. Jarrod Lyle
239. Steve Lowery
241. Michael Bradley
243. Nathan Green
244. Lee Janzen
246. Will MacKenzie
249. Jason Dufner
250. Daniel Chopra
255. Joe Durant
257. Eric Axley
265. Nicholas Thompson
266. Marc Leishman
267. Martin Laird
274. Aron Price
292. Colt Knost
293. Cliff Kresge
295. Brad Adamonis
300. Matt Bettencourt
303. Tim Petrovic
308. Alex Cejka
322. Kirk Triplett
329. Mark Brooks
342. Ted Purdy
344. Marc Turnesa
355. Stephen Leaney
359. Jeff Maggert
376. James Driscoll
417. Charles Warren
448. Greg Kraft
512. Billy Andrade
532. Tommy Gainey
556. Jose Coceres
589. Brian Bateman
791. Brad Faxon
N/R. Mark Anderson
N/R. Chris Couch
N/R. Fred Funk
N/R. Shaun Micheel
N/R. Jose Maria Olazabal
N/R. Cory Schneider
Golfweek.com’s Fantasy Aces are better than ever. We’ve made some changes for 2009 to make the Aces even more useful.
• More experts: Golfweek editor Jeff Babineau, senior writers Jim McCabe, Jeff Rude and Alex Miceli have been added to the mix.
• More picks: You won’t see the same names here every week. Each of the seven Aces can only pick a player seven times throughout the year.
• More at stake: We’ll keep track of how much money each Aces’ picks make, and update the standings each week so you know who to listen to.
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