Fantasy Central

Fantasy Island: Northern Trust Open

By Golf Channel Digital
Feb 15, 2011 4:13 PM ET

GolfChannel.com experts offer up their picks for the Northern Trust 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.

Northern Trust Open

*Ranking among the 14 GolfChannel.com experts

Rex Hoggard

Rex Hoggard

Score (Rank*):

1,572,250 (6)

Group A:
Hunter Mahan

Group B:
J.B. Holmes

Group C:
Aaron Baddeley

Although “’H” doesn’t have a great track record in Los Angeles (T-17 is his best finish) he is too good of a ballstriker to be ignored at a ballpark like Riviera and he finished the Clambake on a roll (final-round 66).

We are aware the Northern Trust Open is not played at TPC Scottsdale, but Holmes has history at Hogan’s Alley (top 10s the last three years) and is playing well (T-5 in Phoenix and T-13 at Pebble Beach).

Riviera is a putter’s paradise (see Stricker, Steve 2010 champion who ranked first in putts per round last year) and Badds was steady even on Pebble’s greens last week.

Randall Mell

Randall Mell

Score (Rank):

1,110,521 (11)

Group A:
Matt Kuchar

Group B:
J.B. Holmes

Group C:
Charles Howell III

Master tactician will dissect Riviera with surgical skill.

Riviera likes this guy, with his record looking like it's leading to a win there.

The perfect place to remember just how good he can be.

Charlie Rymer

Charlie Rymer

Score (Rank):

1,585,310 (5)

Group A:
Luke Donald

Group B:
Bryce Molder

Group C:
Charles Howell III

My sources tell me Donald is playing outstanding golf right now and he has finished second, sixth, and third the last three years at Northern Trust.

Good finish last week and it doesn't take a big hitter to win at Riviera. Heck, Brandel Chamblee nearly won there one time.

Chucky 3 Sticks digs Tinsel Town: A win and a second here. Two top-15s so far this season let me know he's close to playing well.

John Hawkins

Score (Rank):

830,094 (14)

Group A:
Hunter Mahan

Group B:
Geoff Ogilvy

Group C:
Charles Howell III

Coulda, maybe shoulda won last week. Good driver on a course where position definitely matters.

It's his time of year, basically.

Past champ, needs to get something going.

Jay Coffin

Score (Rank):

1,384,007 (9)

Group A:
Phil Mickelson

Group B:
J.B. Holmes

Group C:
Andres Romero

As much as I want to steer away from Phil, his record is too good to avoid here at Riviera with two wins and a second-place finish in the past four years.

Another guy who has figured out The Riv, although it hasn’t yet led to a victory there. He hasn’t finished worse than seventh place in the past three years.

Hasn’t played particularly well this year but I’m hoping that he has good vibes at this event. With the options in this group I’ll go with the guy who has tied for fifth and tied for third the last two years.

Gary Williams

Gary Williams

Score (Rank):

1,108,056 (12)

Group A:
Matt Kuchar

Group B:
Rickie Fowler

Group C:
Spencer Levin

Three top-7 finishes in three starts in 2011 and has never missed the cut at Riviera

Although he missed the cut in his first appearance at Riviera last year, he has two top-20 finishes in two starts in 2011

Making his first start at Riviera and finished T-4 last week at Pebble Beach

Erik Kuselias

Erik Kuselias

Score (Rank):
2,709,932 (1)

Group A:
Luke Donald

Group B:
J.B. Holmes

Group C:
Jason Bohn

Six top-10 finishes in his last seven worldwide starts and three top-6 finishes in his last three starts at Riviera.

Three top-7 finishes in his last three starts at Riviera and two top-13 finishes in last two PGA Tour starts.

Two top-25 finishes in the last two years at Riviera and has not shot higher than 73 in 12 rounds in 2011.

Win McMurry

Win McMurry

Score (Rank):
1,513,057 (7)

Group A:
Steve Stricker

Group B:
J.B. Holmes

Group C:
Aaron Baddeley

The defending champion also finished runner up at Riviera in 2009. His 2011 season is just warming up, but in his first two starts on American soil this year he already has two top-10s.

He’s coming off solid finishes (T5, T13) in his last two starts this season. Add that to his three top-10s in a row in L.A. and he’s unquestionably the man to pick for the B group.

He’s never missed the cut in eight starts at Riviera, has two top-15s, and enters the week off a T6 at Pebble.

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