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.
*Ranking among the 16 GolfChannel.com experts
| Group A: Luke Donald Group B: Group C: | 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. | ||
| Group A: Group B: Group C: | 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. | ||
| Group A: Group B: Group C: | 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. | ||
| Group A: Group B: Group C: | 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.
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| Group A: Group B: Group C: | 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. | ||
| Group A: Group B: Group C: | Made his PGA Tour debut at Harbour Town as an amateur While he has not had a great record at Harbour Town As he said Tuesday on ‘Morning Drive,’ Weekley is | ||
| Group A: Group B: Group C: | 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. | ||
| Group A: Group B: Group C: | 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. 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. | ||
| Group A: Group B: Group C: | 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. | ||
| Group A: Group B: Group C: | 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. |