Fantasy Central

Fantasy Island: Farmers Insurance Open

By Golf Channel Digital
Jan 25, 2011 4:49 PM ET

GolfChannel.com experts offer up their picks for the Farmers Insurance Open. Each week, senior writers Rex Hoggard and Randall Mell, contributors John Hawkins and Charlie Rymer, and editorial director Jay Coffin will give their picks from three groups of players based on Golf Channel's new fantasy game, Fantasy Challenge. We will also keep track of their scores and standings.

You can battle the experts and play along as well. Just click here to get into the game.

Farmers Insurance Open

Rex Hoggard

Rex Hoggard

Score:

794,844

Group A:
Ben Crane

Group B:
Bill Haas

Group C:
Boo Weekley

Maybe it’s the “sledge wand” – one of the faux exercises from his viral workout video – or maybe it’s that repeatable swing, but Torrey Pines fits Crane like “slow play” jokes.

Quietly one of just seven players with multiple PGA Tour victories in 2010 and his playoff miss at the Hope is a sign he’s game for a repeat performance.

The Tour’s blue-collar best gave up beer and the lingering effects of a shoulder injury, and has already posted two top-30 finishes.

Randall Mell

Randall Mell

Score:

547,925

Group A:
Tiger Woods

Group B:
Charles Howell III

Group C:

Ryuji Imada

He overcame a torn ACL and fractured leg at Torrey Pines, he overcomes a fractured spirit there this time.

Like swallows returning to San Juan Capistrano, Howell soars at Torrey Pines.

Like Charles Howell III, something about Torrey Pines stirs his golf soul.

Charlie Rymer

Charlie Rymer

Score:

485,600

Group A:
Tiger Woods

Group B:
Jhonattan Vegas

Group C:
David Duval

He's got $7 million in career earnings at Torrey Pines, $1.3 million more than Jack Nicklaus made in his entire career.

The kid is playing on house money so, "Let it ride, baby!"

Played solidly at Bob Hope and it could have been much better considering he left a lot of shots on the course.

John Hawkins

Score:

576,502

Group A:
Tiger Woods

Group B:
Rory Sabbatini

Group C:
Derek Lamely

It's against the law not to pick him.

Good West Coast history, plus he has played well at this venue before.

Best of the C group, Lamely had a good showing at Hope.

Jay Coffin

Score:

1,059,388

Group A:
Tiger Woods

Group B:
Charles Howell III

Group C:
Boo Weekley

The dude hasn’t won in awhile, but he still rules Torrey Pines. He’s a lock for no worse than a top-10 finish.

He has four top-10 finishes here in the past eight years and I’m hoping a T-13 last week at the Hope is a sign of good things to come.

In this category, just go with name recognition. Plus, Boo has played decent at Torrey Pines and decent in two starts this year.

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