Fantasy Aces: Players Championship
JEFF BABINEAU
Best Bet: Henrik Stenson
Has a solid record at TPC Sawgrass’ Players Stadium Course and quietly has amassed five top-5s around the globe since November, so he’s not far away from landing a big one. He just has to keep his clothes on.
Ace Up My Sleeve: Stephen Ames
Trying out my ‘horses for courses’ theory. Since the 2002 Players, Ames has finished out of the top 20 in this event only twice (both missed cuts) and won it in 2006, running away by six shots. He hits it straight and has a good sense of humor, something a player needs when the winds kick up and the greens start to get crusty on this bruising track. Plus, teacher Sean Foley (Sean O’Hair) is coming off a win at Quail Hollow. Maybe something will rub off.
Last Week's Best Bet: Tiger Woods (4th)
Last Week's Ace: Rory Sabbatini (MC)
Standing: 1st
JIM MCCABE
Best Bet: Ian Poulter
You think it was fun organizing that “Dress Sergio” promotion in light of his win last year? Well, consider the possibilities next year if the colorful Englishman wins. It would no doubt be built around which color shoes he should wear, but it would be filled with colors, that’s for sure.
Ace Up My Sleeve: Jonathan Byrd
OK, we’re digging deep here, down to No. 102 in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings, but Byrd played superbly all four days at Quail Hollow, which was set up similarly to what players will see at the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. Riding five straight made cuts in which he’s been in the top 15 four times.
Last Week's Best Bet: Tiger Woods (4th)
Last Week's Ace: Vijay Singh (MC)/p>
Standing: 2nd
SEAN MARTIN
Best Bet: Sean O’Hair
TPC Sawgrass isn’t a long layout, but it demands that players control their ball around the ol' swamp. O’Hair excels in that area, as evidenced at Wachovia and over the first three rounds at Bay Hill. Plus, he almost won here in ‘07.
Ace Up My Sleeve: Tim Petrovic
His tie for fifth last week at Wachovia was his third consecutive top-11 finish – T-8 at Heritage, T-11 in New Orleans and T-5 at Quail Hollow. Throw in a tie for 15th at last year’s Players, and Petrovic seems poised for a big finish.
Last Week's Best Bet: David Toms (T-18)
Last Week's Ace: Trevor Immelman (T-65)
Standing: 3rd
ERIC SODERSTROM
Best Bet: Tiger Woods
Considering Woods’ recent history at TPC Sawgrass, I understand why you might think this is a bad pick. But to win fantasy leagues, sometimes you have to take some chances, and I’m banking on the fact most of my opponents wil look past Tiger this week – and also that his worst finish of the year in a stroke play event is T-9 at Doral.
Ace Up My Sleeve: Boo Weekley
Boo is 2-for-2 in cutmaking at the Players, and has three top-13s in his last three starts. It’s always a bet here hoping Boo will get the putter going, but that’s the one I’m taking this week.
Last Week's Best Bet: Phil Mickelson (T-5)
Last Week's Ace: Todd Hamilton (MC)
Standing: 5th
LANCE RINGLER
Best Bet: Phil Mickelson
We will continue to save Tiger Woods for the last seven events in order to back into the Fantasy Aces title! I do like Sergio to snap out of his streak this week, but his current form of two missed weekends in a row can’t allow me to pencil him in as the victor. This week look for Phil Mickelson to charge hard and when his second title in three years at The Players Championship.
Ace Up My Sleeve: Boo Weekley
Boo Weekley has two starts at Sawgrass with two made cuts and look for him to continue playing well. Weekley’s current form (three consecutive top-20s) leads me to believe he is ready to post another top-20 this week.
Last Week's Best Bet: Geoff Ogilvy (T-32)
Last Week's Ace: Charles Howell III (MC)
Standing: 7th
JEFF RUDE
Best Bet: Kenny Perry
Provided Masters hangover is gone, he makes sense here. Still in great form, and played well at TPC Sawgrass last year until last day.
Ace Up My Sleeve: Rory Sabbatini
Got his groove back.
Last Week's Best Bet: Jim Furyk (T-11)
Last Week's Ace: Rory Sabbatini (MC)
Standing: 6th
ALEX MICELI
Best Bet: Phil Mickelson
Ace Up My Sleeve: Mark Wilson
Last Week's Best Bet: Phil Mickelson (T-5)
Last Week's Ace: Charles Howell III (MC)
Standing: 4th
Field based on Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index:
1. Sergio Garcia
2. Luke Donald
3. Robert Karlsson
4. Phil Mickelson
5. Kenny Perry
6. Robert Allenby
7. Anthony Kim
8. Jim Furyk
9. Paul Casey
10. Ben Curtis
11. Camilo Villegas
12. Geoff Ogilvy
13. David Toms
15. Ross Fisher
16. Steve Stricker
17. Mike Weir
18. Hunter Mahan
19. Briny Baird
20. Ian Poulter
21. Justin Leonard
22. Kevin Sutherland
23. Tim Clark
24. Sean O’Hair
25. Ernie Els
26. Nick Watney
27. Henrik Stenson
28. Pat Perez
29. Rocco Mediate
31. Martin Kaymer
32. Davis Love III
34. Retief Goosen
35. Chad Campbell
36. Brian Gay
37. Scott Verplank
38. Aaron Baddeley
39. Charlie Wi
40. Padraig Harrington
41. Bob Estes
42. Lucas Glover
43. Charley Hoffman
44. Steve Marino
46. Zach Johnson
47. Stewart Cink
48. Ken Duke
49. Woody Austin
50. Kevin Streelman
51. Rory McIlroy
52. Jeev M. Singh
53. Mark Wilson
54. Stuart Appleby
56. Graeme McDowell
57. Nick O’Hern
60. Boo Weekley
61. Kevin Na
62. Trevor Immelman
63. D.J. Trahan
64. Rory Sabbatini
66. Thongchai Jaidee
67. Angel Cabrera
70. Stephen Ames
72. Oliver Wilson
73. Bart Bryant
74. Ben Crane
75. Carl Pettersson
76. Charles Howell III
77. Dean Wilson
79. Justin Rose
82. Ryuji Imada
84. Joe Ogilvie
85. Michael Allen
86. John Merrick
88. Mathew Goggin
89. Bubba Watson
90. Andres Romero
91. Brett Quigley
92. Soren Kjeldsen
93. Bo Van Pelt
94. Brian Davis
95. Vijay Singh
96. Jeff Overton
97. Heath Slocum
101. Bill Haas
102. Jonathan Byrd
104. John Senden
105. Tim Herron
106. Tom Pernice, Jr.
108. Dustin Johnson
109. Rod Pampling
111. K.J. Choi
112. Fred Couples
113. John Mallinger
115. Fredrik Jacobson
116. John Rollins
117. Michael Letzig
121. Steve Elkington
126. J.B. Holmes
128. Jerry Kelly
132. Dudley Hart
133. Vaughn Taylor
134. Jason Dufner
135. Matt Kuchar
140. Paul Goydos
145. Jeff Klauk
146. Tommy Armour III
149. Todd Hamilton
150. J.J. Henry
153. Adam Scott
158. Corey Pavin
160. Steve Flesch
161. Ryan Palmer
167. Scott Piercy
169. Cameron Beckman
177. Tim Wilkinson
192. Scott McCarron
199. Tim Petrovic
206. Johnson Wagner
209. Chez Reavie
213. Richard S. Johnson
214. Ryan Moore
215. Steve Lowery
219. Billy Mayfair
220. Troy Matteson
234. Y.E. Yang
244. Will MacKenzie
252. Jason Bohn
252. Daniel Chopra
257. Parker McLachlin
258. Peter Lonard
259. Martin Laird
260. Matt Bettencourt
263. Eric Axley
270. Nicholas Thompson
279. Alex Cejka
281. Nathan Green
293. Brad Adamonis
305. Michael Campbell
312. Cliff Kresge
331. Jeff Quinney
342. Michael Bradley
351. Marc Turnesa
418. Greg Kraft
651. George McNeill
N/R. Fred Funk
N/R. D.A. Weibring
N/R. Tiger Woods
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.
Fantasy Tip Sheet: Travelers Championship
For Woods, it never hurts to keep quiet
Woods out of AT&T with elbow strain
Numbers don't lie: Merion was simply a beast
Notes: 'Moving Day' at majors hasn't been kind to Tiger
Print
Email
