Fantasy Preview: Arnold Palmer Invitational

The Tour stops in Orlando and the evolving Bay Hill Club and Lodge this week for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. One of the more difficult non-major courses, Bay Hill made the jump from a par 70 to a 72 a year ago. With the added distance, length and accuracy off the tee is critical. Read on to see who’s most likely to mix some celebratory soft drinks with Arnie (as well as get a trophy and a large sum of money) on Sunday.

As always, the questionable picks dispensed below are based on Yahoo/PGATour.com league rules.

A-LIST

Martin Laird: He’s coming off back-to-back top 10’s, with a T5 at Copperhead last week, thanks to some magnificent play off the tee. Laird is currently sixth on the Tour in driving distance (303.0), 14^th in total driving and should be right in the thick of things for a third straight week.

Tiger Woods: Hey, I remember this guy! Two weeks ago, Woods finished strong with a Sunday 66 at Doral, and he’s taken home six career wins at Bay Hill. No, you’re not getting vintage Tiger, but considering his track record here and his not-as-wildly-inconsistent recent play, this is a decent time to jump back on the Eldrick bandwagon.

B-LIST

Hunter Mahan: He took a week off after fading at Doral (first-round 64 before falling to ninth), but he’s gone top 10 in three of his six stroke play starts and he’s had three straight top-25’s at Bay Hill (including a T6 in 2008, when he broke 70 three times).

Webb Simpson: Throw out a rough Friday at the Farmers, and Simpson is having a heck of a year. He finished second at Innisbrook last week, his second top 10 in three starts, with four sub-70 rounds. And yes, he missed the cut here a year ago, but he finished T11 in ’09. The way he’s playing right now (seventh on the Tour on scoring average at 69.58) there’s a whole lot to like.

Justin Rose: His putter let him down on Sunday but Rose looked awfully good up until then, shooting back-to-back 65’s on Friday and Saturday. He’s sixth on the Tour in GIR (63.1%). 

Robert Allenby: He’s been nothing but solid in his last three stroke play starts, finishing T4 at the Northern Trust, T21 at the Honda Classic and T15 at Doral, including a 69 on Saturday and 68 on Sunday. He’s also coming off back to back top 15’s at Bay Hill.

C-LIST

Chris Couch: He hung around at Copperhead thanks to a 69-64 to start the week, and he has three top 10’s in five starts this year, making all five cuts. His putter has been on fire. Literally, on fire. He soaks it in kerosene and lights it up Jimi Hendrix-style after every round. It’s freaking sweet. Okay, that doesn’t actually happen, but he’s 10^th on the Tour in total putting. And he had a T4 at Bay Hill a year ago.

Sergio Garcia: Well, if we’re going with Tiger, why not go Sergio too? He’s coming off three straight top 20s (two in Europe), including a solid T15 at Copperhead a week ago. Considering his five top 10’s at Bay Hill, he’s definitely worthy of a C-list spot. 

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Fantasy Preview: The Farmers Insurance Open

By Gary Gramling, SI.com

Welcome to the world premiere of Advice For You Concerning Fantasy Golf. Too dry? Alright, how about Fantasy BackSpin?

We're getting started just in time for Tiger's 2011 debut at a Torrey Pines course that he all but owns. All picks dispensed below are based on Yahoo/PGATour.com leagues.

A-LIST

Tiger Woods: Yes, yes, yes, it would have been nice to see Eldrick roll in a couple more putts last year. But you can't overlook seven professional wins in 12 tournaments at Torrey Pines. He hasn't lost there since 2004. Of course, the best part about picking Tiger is the fact that most of his 72 holes will be broadcast live on television.

Dustin Johnson: Johnson returns after taking a couple of weeks off and dismissing Natalie Gulbis/Sony Open WD rumors. Torrey Pines North will play its longest ever this year, which should work out nicely for a big hitter like Johnson, who has come a long way since missing the cut at the Farmers last year.

B-LIST

Ryuji Imada: He's short off the tee, but that hasn't held Imada back at Torrey Pines. Hampered by a rib injury last season, he's 100 percent healthy again and poised for a season more like 2008, when he was ninth in the FedEx Cup standings.

Bill Haas: Haas had a monster finish at the Bob Hope last week, shooting 20 under over his last 54 holes, including a 62 on Saturday. Through nine rounds this year, he's hit 79.7 percent of his fairways and 83.3 percent of greens in regulation. It all adds up to a No. 1 all-around statistical ranking.

Ben Crane: The defending champ is primed for a third straight top-10 finish at the Farmers. He hit 52 of 60 fairways (86.7 percent) and 63 of 72 greens (87.5 percent) at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions three weeks ago, his only tournament so far this year.

Rickie Fowler: The 22-year-old reigning rookie of the year and California native will be a fan favorite when he makes his season debut in San Diego. Fowler posted a fifth-place finish in his Travelers debut last year. He finished 22nd in GIR a year ago (69.9 percent), a key at Torrey Pines.

C-LIST

Gary Woodland: Woodland was so close at the Bob Hope last week, stringing together five sub-70 rounds before losing a playoff to Jhonattan Vegas on Sunday evening. A monster off the tee, he'll have an edge on a South course that will play very long this weekend. Accuracy is an issue, but Woodland is worth a roll of the dice on the C-list.

Keegan Bradley: The hot finish to his 2010 Nationwide season may have carried over for Bradley, who posted his first career top-10 at the Bob Hope last week. He's always been long off the tee, and in seven rounds this year he's hit 72.9 percent of his fairways and 83.3 percent of his greens.

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Fantasy picks for the British Open at St. Andrews

A-Players
Ernie Els: The Big Easy already has two wins this season on the PGA Tour, and his record at the Open is remarkable: 12 top-10 finishes in 18 appearances.

Tiger Woods: He's been hot and cold this season, but Tiger was right in the mix at Augusta and Pebble Beach. St. Andrews is his favorite course, so it would be hard to imagine he wouldn't be in the hunt on Sunday.

B-Players
Padraig Harrington: The winner of two of the last three Opens is coming off a T5 at the Travelers, his last start before coming to the Old Course. Harrington is also a two-time winner at the Alfred Dunhill Links, which is played at St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.

Rory McIlroy: He's only 21 years old, but McIlroy has proven he can win on the big stage. Coming off a fourth-place finish at the French Open, McIlroy also has good memories at St. Andrews: His worst round in competition is a 69.

Miguel Angel Jimenez: The Mechanic has two wins this year in Europe, and he's finished in the top 15 in two of the last three Opens.

Retief Goosen: The Goose is quietly having a good season, with seven top 10s world wide. He also has a good record at the British -- seven top 10s in 15 starts.

C-Players
Justin Rose: With two wins in his last three starts on the PGA Tour, Justin Rose is the hottest player in the game. He's also played well lately in the Open -- two top-15 finishes in the last three Opens.

Francesco Molinari: Hard to choose just one Molinari, but I went with Francesco. Edoardo won last week at the Scottish Open, but Francesco has a little more experience at the British Open.

Fantasy picks for AT&T National

A-Players
Tiger Woods: The former tournament host has done well in the majors this year, but not so much in regular Tour events. Woods showed flashes of his old self at Pebble Beach, and I think we'll see more of that this week.

Ryan Moore: Coming off his best season on Tour, Moore has continued his solid play with six top-25 finishes. Moore is also coming off a good showing  at the Travelers, where he shot four rounds in the 60s.

B-Players
Sean O'Hair: The Aronimink member downplayed his local course knowledge saying, "I know what clubs I'm going to hit off the tees. But as far as greens, which is what that course is all about, I don't know the greens like the back of my hand or anything like that." Still, hard not to think he'll play well this week.

J.B. Holmes: He's cooled off since nearly winning twice earlier this year, but Holmes is coming off a win at the Charity Classic with Ricky Barnes, and his improved putting stroke should help on the Donald Ross greens at Aronimink.

Jim Furyk: A two-time winner this year, Furyk is coming off top-20 finishes at the Memorial and the U.S. Open.

Nick Watney: He's had an up-and-down season but with eight top-25 finishes in 15 events, chances are Watney will bounce back with a good showing this week.

C-Players
Ricky Barnes: Since Colonial, Barnes hasn't finished outside the top 25. His worst showing? A T27 at the U.S. Open.

Matt Jones: The Aussie has four top 10s this year, and he's coming off a T13 at the Travelers.

Fantasy Golf Picks for the BMW Championship

With the exception of a few picks, my fantasy lineup didn't change much from last week. It's always hard to predict how a golfer will play in any given week, but I am mostly sticking with the players who have been solid in the playoffs. If $10 million doesn't inspire you to play well ...

A-Players
Padraig Harrington: If he can stay away from the big numbers, Harrington just might win his first event since the 2008 PGA.

Tiger Woods: Woods has won almost as many titles in Chicago as his buddy Michael Jordan. A win this week would give Woods five titles at Cog Hill, while Jordan won six title with the Bulls.

B-Players
Steve Stricker: After a T2 at The Barclays and a win last week, Stricker climbed to No. 1 in FedEx Cup points. In the last two BMW Championships, Stricker finished in the top 10 both times.

Zach Johnson: Since winning his second title of the year in May, Johnson has finished out of the top 20 only four times.

Sean O'Hair: He's coming off a T8 at the Deutsche Bank, and O'Hair is starting to play like he did earlier this season when he finished out of the top 25 once in ten events.

Angel Cabrera: Cabrera has finished in the top five twice in his last four events, and he needs a good week to remain in the top 30.

C-Players
Retief Goosen: The Goose has found his game again after dropping out of the top 10 in the world rankings. In 18 events this season, Goosen has five top 10s, and he is coming off a T8 in Boston.

Scott Verplank: With two top 10s in the playoffs, Verplank has moved to fifth in the FedEx Cup standings.

Fantasy Golf Picks for the Deutsche Bank Championship

After a week on an unfamiliar golf course with an unfamiliar winner, the FedEx Cup playoffs move to more familiar territory at TPC Boston, where Vijay Singh defends his title at the Deutsche Bank Championship.

The top 70 in the FedEx Cup standings move on to next week's BMW Championship outside Chicago.

A-Players
Tiger Woods: He hasn't won a tournament in almost a month, so is that considered a dry spell for Woods? With two wins and two runner-up finishes since missing the cut at the British Open, Woods just needs to get the putter working to return to the winner's circle.

Padraig Harrington: So much for that slump. While he hasn't won this year, Harrington's game has returned lately with three straight top-10 finishes.

B-Players
Steve Stricker: He's starting to become a regular contender in the playoffs, and Stricker continued his good play last week, finishing T2 at The Barclays.

Zach Johnson: He's finished out of the top 30 only once in his last six events, and Johnson was right in the mix at The Barclays until a final-round 75.

Hunter Mahan: While he hasn't won this year, Mahan has been one of the most consistent players on Tour, with 14 top-25 finishes in 21 events.

Nick Watney: After a mid-year slump, Watney rebounded nicely at The Barclays, finishing T6 and moving into the top 10 in FedEx Cup points.

C-Players
Ian Poulter: I pointed out last week that Poulter has been solid in almost every big event this year, and he didn't disappoint at The Barclays with a T9.

Heath Slocum: Ok, so we're probably a week too late with this pick, but at least he has a lot to play for after his stunning win at Liberty National. Slocum jumped from No. 124 in FedEx Cup points to No. 3, and now he has a shot to win the points race.

Fantasy Golf Picks for the PGA Championship

It will be hard for anyone to leave Tiger Woods off their roster this week since Woods is going for his third win in as many weeks. But remember he's teased us all year. Woods won every event he played in before a major, and he has yet to win one. Will this week be different?

A-Players
Tiger Woods: He has to win this week, right? Woods has five wins this year, and he lost out to Rich Beem the last time the PGA was at Hazeltine.

Stewart Cink: So much for a post-British Open letdown. Cink finished T6 at the Bridgestone in his first start since winning at Turnberry.

B-Players
Steve Stricker: I always worry about Stricker being able to finish the job on Sundays, but he's been having a great year, with eight top 10s and two wins.

Lee Westwood: Westwood is another guy who is continuing to play well after the Open. He hasn't finished out of the top 10 in his last four events.

Angel Cabrera: His record has been shaky since winning the Masters, but Cabrera is coming off solid finishes at the Scottish Open, the British Open and a T4 at Firestone.

Boo Weekley: Boo has eight top-25 finishes this year, and in his two starts at the PGA he's finished T20 and T9.

C-Players
Retief Goosen: If it's not going to be Tiger this week, I like The Goose. Goosen won earlier this year after struggling with his game, and in his last five starts he has four top 10s. Oh, and he's won two U.S. Opens.

Luke Donald: The sweet-swinging Brit has five top 10s this year, and if not for a wrist injury earlier in the year, he might have had even more. He played a great final round at Turnberry to finish T5.

Fantasy Golf Picks for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational

Chances are, with the exception of Tiger Woods, last week was a bad week for most people with a fantasy lineup. Names such as Thatcher, Chalmers and Senden were probably not at the top of anyone's roster. But this week brings the return of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and most of the top-50 players, including Phil Mickelson.

A-Players
Tiger Woods: Six wins in nine starts at Firestone, and Woods has never finished worse than T4.

Paul Casey: This is a big week for the world No. 3. Casey hasn't sniffed a top 10 since Colonial, and he's coming off a disappointing missed cut at the British Open. He has two top-10 finishes at Firestone in the last three years, so look for Casey to return to the first page of the leaderboard.

B-Players
Lee Westwood: He's coming off three straight top 10s, including a T3 at Turnberry, and Westwood tied for second last year at Firestone.

Davis Love III: He's finished out of the top 13 only once at Firestone.

Rory McIlroy: Making his debut at Firestone, McIlroy has missed only one cut this year.

Steve Stricker: With two wins in his last five starts, Stricker is one of the hottest players on Tour.

C-Players
Retief Goosen: He finished T4 last year at the Bridgestone, and Goosen is coming off four straight top 10s.

Luke Donald: In 15 events this season, Donald has 11 top-25 finishes, and he has never finished out of the top-25 at Firestone.

Fantasy Golf Picks for the Buick Open

If you're in a fantasy league that sets a limit on the number of times you can use a player, the next three weeks could be a little tricky. Tiger Woods is playing three consecutive weeks, all on courses he's done well on -- Warwick Hills, Firestone and Hazeltine.

Also, don't forget about the playoffs. Woods hasn't said whether he'll play all four events, but even with a week off before the Tour Championship, Woods would be playing six of seven weeks.

A-Players
Jim Furyk: With four top 10s in his last six events, Furyk comes to Warwick Hills, where he has a win and six top 10s since 2001.

Tiger Woods: It's really weird to look at Woods' results and see a "CUT". Chances are he doesn't like it either. Expect to see a "1" next to the Buick Open.

B-Players
Nick Watney: The Buick Invitational champ has had mixed results after a great start to the season, but he has yet to miss a cut in three starts at Warwick Hills.

Nathan Green: He's only made two appearances at the Buick Open, but Green is coming in hot off a playoff win at the Canadian Open.

Paul Goydos: He's finished in the top 5 in three of his last six events, and Goydos hasn't missed the cut in his last five appearances at the Buick Open.

Woody Austin: Austin has finished T2 the past two years at the Buick Open.

C-Players
Lee Janzen: The two-time U.S. Open champion is starting to find his game again after a T5 at the Canadian Open.

Charlie Wi: He's missed three straight cuts, but Wi has two straight top-25 finishes at Warwick Hills.

Fantasy Golf Picks for the British Open

Picking who's going to do well at the British Open can be as unpredictable as the bounces on a links course. Greg Norman's magical run last year was just another example in a long history of surprises at golf's oldest championship.

Adding to the difficulty this week is the major champions from 2009 haven't been household names either. Despite winning the 2007 U.S. Open, few people expected Angel Cabrera to win the Masters. Lucas Glover was an even bigger long shot, having only one PGA Tour win to his name before capturing the U.S. Open.

A-Players
Tiger Woods: He hasn't won a major since coming back from knee surgery, but Woods has recorded T6 finishes at the Masters and the U.S. Open.

Ernie Els: Eleven top-10 finishes in 17 starts at the British Open. It's amazing Els has only one claret jug.

B-Players
Lee Westwood: He's coming off two top 10s on the European Tour, and Westwood has been playing pretty solid for the past year.

Rory McIlroy: The 20-year-old's only missed cut came at the Players, and he's finished in the top 20 11 times this year.

Brian Gay: With two wins, and a T13 last week at the Scottish Open, Gay might be one of the surprises this year. He's not a bomber, but his accuracy and solid putting could be a huge benefit this week.

Nick Watney: Watney also had a great Scottish Open, finishing in the top 10, plus if the wind picks up his low ball flight will come in handy.

C-Players
Retief Goosen: The Goose should have won the Scottish Open last week, but a few loose shots cost him the tournament. His game seems to be coming back this year after a win at the Transitions Championship.

Ian Poulter: He nearly won the Open last year, and Poulter's game has been sharp in the big events this year, finishing in the top 20 at the Masters, U.S. Open, the Players and both WGC events.