Fantasy Central

Fantasy Island: The Heritage

By Golf Channel Digital
Apr 19, 2011 12:12 PM ET

GolfChannel.com experts offer up their picks for the the Heritage. Each week a panel of experts will offer up 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. The panel consists of: senior writers Rex Hoggard and Randall Mell; contributors John Hawkins and Charlie Rymer; editorial director Jay Coffin; "Morning Drive" hosts Gary Williams and Erik Kuselias; contributor Win McMurry; writer for NBCSports.com's ProGolf Talk, Ryan Ballengee; and RotoWorld.com's Rob Bolton.

The Heritage

*Ranking among the 16 GolfChannel.com experts

Rex Hoggard

Rex Hoggard

Score (Rank*)
4,008,797 (6)

Group A:
Luke Donald

Group B:
Brandt Snedeker

Group C:
Boo Weekley

He’s the highest-ranked player in the field (third), hasn’t finished outside the top 10 in his last four PGA Tour starts (including a T-4 at the Masters) and has finished tied for third and second the last two years at The Heritage. In other words, an easy pick.

An untimely cool putter coming down the stretch last week in Texas cost him, but he’s healthy, happy at home with his new baby and hitting the ball further than he ever has.

The “Man from Milton” is off to a rough start this season (four missed cuts and a withdrawal), but if anywhere can rekindle his inner ballstriker it is Harbour Town, where he’s a two-time champion.

Randall Mell

Randall Mell

Score (Rank)
2,530,128 (15)

Group A:
Luke Donald

Group B:
Aaron Baddeley

Group C:
Boo Weekley

He’s got the tactical smarts and iron game to decipher Pete Dye’s puzzle. Plus, you gotta like Donald's T-3 and T-2 finishes in his last two starts at Harbour Town.

Baddeley’s victory at Harbour Town in ‘06 and his title at Riviera earlier this season make him a good fit again this week.

Two victories in the event (2007-08) inspire a much needed return to better form this week.

Charlie Rymer

Charlie Rymer

Score (Rank)
3,233,210 (10)

Group A:
Matt Kuchar

Group B:
Stewart Cink

Group C:
Cameron Tringale

Great course for Matt Kuchar...but aren't they all.

Cink just tweeted about how fun the course is and how much he likes the event. In my book there ain't nothing more fun than winning! As Ricky Bobby said "If you're not first you're last."

Tringale was close last week. Extra credit to anyone who figures out what my three picks for Hilton Head have in common.

John Hawkins

Score (Rank)
3,792,751 (7)

Group A:
Zach Johnson

Group B:
Aaron Baddeley

Group C:
Boo Weekley

This should be a very good course for him, perfect for his accuracy.

Past champ, and every time I look, he's playing well.

Site of all his glory as a Tour pro, maybe the memories will ignite something.

Jay Coffin

Score (Rank)
3,167,575 (11)

Group A:
Luke Donald

Group B:
Aaron Baddeley

Group C:
Kyle Stanley

I'd have picked him this week if his record wasn't good at Hilton Head. Turns out he's recorded a T-3 and a T-2 the last two years here.

Badds hasn't finished worse than 22nd here in the past five years, including one victory. That, coupled with his form this year make him a good pick.

I've picked him twice this year and it hasn't panned out, but the dude makes birdies in doses and is too good not to contend at some point this year.

Gary Williams

Gary Williams

Score (Rank)
3,448,810 (9)

Group A:
Rickie Fowler

Group B:
Brandt Snedeker

Group C:
Boo Weekley

Made his PGA Tour debut at Harbour Town as an amateur in 2008 and finished tied for eighth in 2010. He has two top-10s on the 2011 PGA TOUR and is ready to win.

While he has not had a great record at Harbour Town (best finish is T-16 in '07), he is playing great in '11 with a pair of fourth-place finishes in Tampa and San Antonio and a T-15 at Augusta National.

As he said Tuesday on 'Morning Drive,' Weekley is playing great and feeling great and when you have won two tartan jackets and never finished out of the top 13, how can you not pick him?

Erik Kuselias

Erik Kuselias

Score (Rank)
3,448,810 (2)

Group A:
Luke Donald

Group B:
Aaron Baddeley

Group C:
Keegan Bradley

Highest ranked player in the field (third in Official World Golf Ranking), won the 2011 WGC-Accenture Match Play, T-4 in the Masters, two top-3 finishes in the last twoyears at Harbour Town … that sums it up.

Won the 2011 Northern Trust Open, won the 2006 Heritage on Easter Sunday (Sunday is Easter Sunday this year), and has finished top 25 at Harbour Town in each of the last five years.

PGA Tour rookie has two top 10s in 11 starts, including a tie for ninth last week in San Antonio. Making his first appearance at Harbour Town, he may be the next rookie to win.

Win McMurry

Win McMurry

Score (Rank)
6,635,134 (1)

Group A:
Luke Donald

Group B:
Aaron Baddeley

Group C:
Boo Weekley

He’s off to a crazy good year. After winning the Match Play he has made top-10s in all three of his starts. Plus, he likes Hilton Head finishing T-3 and T-2 the last two years.

It was either Badds or Bo Van Pelt here. Going with the the guy who has a win this year and a past win at The Heritage.

I’m not sure exactly what it is about Harbour Town that brings out some of the best in Boo, but despite his season record coming in, you have to take Boo as a C pick this week based on his history at Hilton Head. His last four starts on the island: T-12, T-13, Win, Win.

Ryan Ballengee

Ryan Ballengee

Score (Rank)
820,026 (16)

Group A:
Luke Donald

Group B:
Aaron Baddeley

Group C:
Keegan Bradley

Donald closed the Masters with a hole-out on a course on which skeptics said he couldn't contend. He finished four back as the Par 3 Contest winner, too. Harbour Town should be a breeze for him. Last two starts here: T-3 and T-2.

A past champion of this event, back when he was a Stack-and-Tilt-er, Badds returns to the Heritage in form again and already a winner on Tour in '11 at Riviera, another ball-striker's paradise.

Why not? He had his best finish since the Hope last week in San Antonio. He's slightly better than middle of the road on accuracy numbers for the year, but as long as guys in their 20s keep winning on Tour, I gotta pick one 20-something.

Rob Bolton

Rob Bolton

Score (Rank)
2,783,381 (12)

Group A:
Luke Donald

Group B:
Aaron Baddeley

Group C:
Boo Weekley

Going with pure chalk after taking the collar last week. Top 10s in each of his last four starts. Top threes in the last two editions of this even.

The 2006 Heritage champ hasn’t finished outside the top 25 in five appearances. Continues to pure his irons. Shared fourth place in Houston three weeks ago.

Strictly a selection for course history buffs. Both of his PGA TOUR wins were at The Heritage (2007, 2008). Pair of top 15s since. Hasn’t broken par in his last eight rounds in 2011, however.