Fantasy Central

Fantasy Island: Zurich Classic of New Orleans

By Golf Channel Digital
Apr 26, 2011 3:49 PM ET

GolfChannel.com experts offer up their picks for the the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. 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.

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

2007 Zurich Classic

*Ranking among the 16 GolfChannel.com experts

Rex Hoggard

Rex Hoggard

Score (Rank*)
5,665,901 (2)

Group A:
Luke Donald

Group B:
Spencer Levin

Group C:
Cameron Tringale

“Luke Donald Disease” may not produce a lot of “Ws,” but five top-10 finishes in six Tour events this year is fantasy gold.

Near-misses in Mexico and Bay Hill only make former wild child want to win that much more.

Tour sophomore proved at Texas Open (T-5) he can put himself into contention, now he has to learn how to convert on a Sunday.

Randall Mell

Randall Mell

Score (Rank)
3,252,432 (13)

Group A:
Luke Donald

Group B:
Jeff Overton

Group C:
Kevin Sutherland

This is all about riding the hot hand and believing Donald remains highly motivated with No. 1 within reach.

After a sluggish start to the year, Overton's due to heat up with summer's approach, and he's got some good history in New Orleans.

With the confidence of a good showing in his last start in Texas, and good vibes returning to New Orleans, Sutherland's primed to play well.

Charlie Rymer

Charlie Rymer

Score (Rank)
3,854,314 (10)

Group A:
Nick Watney

Group B:
Tommy Gainey

Group C:
Boo Weekley

I'm feeling like it's time for Nick Watney to get it going again, after all it's been something like a month since he won.

Tommy Gainey has secured his card for 2012 now he can play like he's on house money, which he is.

Ol' Boo Weekley hit it great last week. He just needs to find a flat stick that works. Maybe he'll find the heart of a lightning struck cypress tree he can fashion into a putter shaft in Roy Hobbs fashion?

John Hawkins

Score (Rank)
3,842,883 (11)

Group A:
Graeme McDowell

Group B:
David Toms

Group C:
Andres Romero

Best player in the field who didn't lose in a playoff last week.

Hometown guy, quietly having a decent year.

He's a past champ. In Group C, that counts for something.

Jay Coffin

Score (Rank)
3,874,375 (9)

Group A:
Nick Watney

Group B:
K.J. Choi

Group C:
John Rollins

He's won this event before and he's still one of the best players in the world. Masters performance was a little surprising but he'll jump back on the horse nicely.

I think Choi is a good value pick here. He plays well in New Orleans and was in the hunt at Augusta National. I'd be surprised if he doesn't contend.

By my calculations, he's the best ranked player in this group and he's finished T-21 and T-13 respectively here the last two years.

Gary Williams

Gary Williams

Score (Rank)
4,490,314 (5)

Group A:
Nick Watney

Group B:
K.J. Choi

Group C:
Tim Petrovic

He won at TPC Louisiana in 2007 and despite a lackluster Masters is one of the best players in the world in 2011.

He won in New Orleans in 2002 and played well albeit inconsistently at TPC Louisiana. Strong play in 2011 makes him my B Pick.

I am going with three winners at TPC Louisiana this week and Petrovic is someone who has played well at this course along with his win in 2005.

Erik Kuselias

Erik Kuselias

Score (Rank)
4,834,435 (4)

Group A:
Luke Donald

Group B:
Brandt Snedeker

Group C:
Tim Petrovic

I know he is making his first appearance in New Orleans, but when one has five straight top-10s and a chance at world No. 1, you have to pick him.

I did not pick Brandt last week because he had not played well at Harbour Town. But when you are hot, you're hot and I am picking him this week.

He won at TPC Louisiana in 2005 and has two other top-11 finishes there. Could sneak up on the field.

Win McMurry

Win McMurry

Score (Rank)
7,087,438 (1)

Group A:
Steve Stricker

Group B:
Charles Howell

Group C:
Cameron Tringale

While I believe 2007 champion Nick Watney and last week’s runner-up Luke Donald are good picks this week, the edge goes to Stricker who has a T-7 and a T-11 here since the event moved to TPC Louisiana.

He finished runner-up here a couple years ago and despite a MC last week, he has six top-25s this season.

In one previous start in NOLA, Tringale tied for 28th and he’s had a good start to his sophomore year on Tour where he’s already surpassed his earnings from last year. He has two top-25s, including a T-5 at the Valero Texas Open.

Ryan Ballengee

Ryan Ballengee

Score (Rank)
1,526,826 (16)

Group A:
Steve Stricker

Group B:
Brandt Snedeker

Group C:
Michael Allen

Didn't play last year, but has two top-12s in his last three NOLA starts. His game seems to be coming around after a long Wisconsin winter.

Won last week and has five top-10s this season. He's also the first guy in his 30s to win on Tour in seven weeks.

This event has a history of producing some rather surprising winners. Would Michael Allen finally winning on the PGA Tour at age 52 be surprising enough for you?

Rob Bolton

Rob Bolton

Score (Rank)
3,505,685 (12)

Group A:
Justin Rose

Group B:
Charley Hoffman

Group C:
Matt Every

He’s cashed in all nine starts this year, with three top-10s and a T11 in his last start (Masters). Also leads the PGA TOUR in greens hit.

Rested after a co-runner-up in San Antonio, where he led the field in birdies.

Took peeks at Tim Herron (T4 at The Heritage), Boo Weekley (third in GIR) and Jarrod Lyle (3-for-3 here; T10 last year), but I love that Every is making his final start via his Minor Medical Extension. Needs a three-way T5 or solo sixth to secure his card.

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