Fantasy Insider: Best of the rest, others to avoid in Hilton Head

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Nope. I still stand by it. Phil Mickelson will not contend at The Masters.

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Excerpt from my column last week: "I'm not debating his abilities at Augusta National, but even he has to be wondering if this will be the first week of 2010 that he puts four solid rounds together." Anyone wanna help me up?

So while I digest the merits of that swing and a miss (actually, I did quite well with Lee Westwood, Anthony Kim, Tiger Woods and others), let's bounce back on the seaside vistas of the Calibogue Sound.

As I mentioned in my Power Rankings on Monday, the premium is on hitting greens in regulation. Scrambling rides shotgun around the tiny greens of Harbour Town.

MORE: Rookie Watch | Medical Extensions | Reshuffle | Major qualifiers

TOP PICKS: No one from this group cracked my Power Rankings.

Luke Donald -- With missed cuts in Houston and at the Masters, it's the first time he's fanned in two straight on the PGA TOUR in over three years. No biggie, just a little shocking. Super fit this week. En route to last year's T2, he was T3 in greens hit and second in putting. Whaaat?! He's currently fourth in scrambling and first in sand saves. Oh, and he has a nifty little mid-iron game, too (ranks first in proximity from 150-175 yards; he's fourth from 125-150 yards). Would have cracked my Power Rankings if he didn't roll in MC-MC.

Zach Johnson -- One of these days, he's going to turn a corner as it's been nothing but a disappointment thus far. He's 35th in greens hit, and 18th in ball-striking but well outside the top 100 in scrambling and sand saves. Has one top 10 in five starts at this event, but you'll likely short-side yourself going at this pin.

Stephen Ames -- Might enter this week with a bit of chip on his shoulder since last week's Masters was the first major for which he didn't qualify since Phil Mickelson's first Masters' victory in 2004. Ames is ripe to parlay that motivation with rest and a good record at Harbour Town. Of his six paydays, two of his four top 25s are top 10s. He's also ninth in greens hit this year on the PGA TOUR. Never a sleeper but often overlooked. Yahoo! gamers should consider him for their bench.

Bryce Molder -- His lack of distance off the tee doesn't matter this week, inflating the value of the rest of his game, which is in top form of late -- three top 10s in his last five starts going back to the Waste Management Phoenix Open. First appearance at the Verizon Heritage.

Bill Haas -- Although he's 38th in greens in regulation on TOUR, he's only 1-for-5 at Harbour Town. Lone payday was a T27 in 2006. Much better options exist this week.

Jonathan Byrd -- In what is essentially his hometown event, he's making his first start here since his dad passed away last summer. Unfortunately, despite eight career appearances here, he has just one top 25, and that was in 2004. Avoid.

Martin Laird -- Knowing that statistics are reviewed by players and caddies alike, I wonder if a guy like Laird will sit down and study his assets for a course like Harbour Town. Better known for his power, the Scot is a surprising 12th in GIR. Putting is his bane, so the idea would be to play to his strength. In his only career start here, he missed the cut last year, but keep an eye on how he adjusts this week. He just might surprise himself.
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TOP PICKS: See Power Rankings for Robert Allenby, K.J. Choi, Jim Furyk, Brian Gay, Lucas Glover and Bo Van Pelt.

Briny Baird -- Shared second place last year for his fourth career runner-up finish. However, the non-winner withdrew before his second round at the Shell Houston Open two weeks ago with a neck injury. (He opened with a 78.) Yahoo! gamers have many other smarter options this week.

Camilo Villegas -- Finished T7 here in 2008 but it's a good week to give him a breather.

Fredrik Jacobson -- Rarely does he light it up, but he's cashed in all seven of his starts this year, including a T6 at the Honda and T22 in Houston, his most recent plays. He doesn't find the fairway off the tee as often as most, but he's 18th in greens hit from deeper lies anyway. His short game alone is good for his third straight top 25. He has two of those in five starts at this event.

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TOP PICKS: See Power Rankings for Jerry Kelly, Matt Kuchar, Vaughn Taylor and D.J. Trahan.

Boo Weekley -- With a 1-1-T13 record here, you might have been shocked when you didn't see him in the Power Rankings. Remember that he tore the labrum in his left shoulder 11 months ago (at THE PLAYERS). He opted for rest over repair, and has played better lately than any other touring pro with a similar injury in the last three years, but he's still not himself. Pile on the plantar fasciitis in his right foot and it's impressive that he has two top 25s in his last three starts this year. I was down on him entering 2010 and remain sour now. Let your competition invest.

Paul Casey -- Finished T11 last year here, his only career appearance. However, given his shoulder injury, and wont not to overdo it, yet make enough starts to reach the minimum 15 per membership regulations, he's likely piggybacking his Masters' appearance nearby for one more tally mark. That's speculation on my part, but that's my job. Leave him be.

Brandt Snedeker -- The question is when he's going to snap out of his mild funk. His stats defy the results - third in putting, 19th in scrambling and 21st in scoring average, yet zero top 25s over his last five starts. Sorry, but he still doesn't deserve to return your lineup.

Tim Clark -- I never get too far down on this guy, but he's been struggling with his irons lately. It might also surprise you that he has just one top 10 in seven career starts at the Heritage (T7, 2006). It's almost as if the track isn't hard enough, because that's his M.O.

Trevor Immelman -- Last week's T14 was his best effort by far since wrist surgery. Mild sleeper this week.

Ricky Barnes -- Hard to believe that he leads the TOUR in birdies, but it's true. Despite a T10 at The Masters, he's a first-timer here and still in the learning curve. Better choices above.

Rob Bolton is PGATOUR.COM's new fantasy columnist. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the PGA TOUR. To contact Rob, please e-mail him at FantasyInsider@charter.net.