Fantasy golf picks for the Buick Invitational

For the second straight week, fantasy players are stuck with the same dilemma: To start Phil, or not to start Phil?

Despite his stellar record at the FBR Open, Mickelson found ways to hit behind what few trees there are at TPC Scottsdale on his way to missing the cut in his season debut.

Now Mickelson is back at Torrey Pines, where his resume at the Buick Invitational is second only to Tiger's. Since 2000, Mickelson has two wins and four top 10s. But will he fool us again as he tries to shake off the winter rust?

A-Players
Padraig Harrington: Sorry, Phil. The buzz this week is the return of the reigning British Open and PGA champ. He ran out of steam at the end of '08, but came back in form at Abu Dhabi, finishing T5 in a very strong field. With Mickelson's struggles last week, Harrington looks to be the favorite.

Kevin Sutherland: Coming off a great 2008 season, Sutherland returns to Torrey Pines, where he has four career top 10s. In his last two trips to the Buick, Sutherland has finished in the top 15 both times.

B-Players
Charley Hoffman: He's a Southern California guy who lost in a playoff to Kenny Perry at the FBR. Hoffman's record at Torrey Pines isn't stellar, but he hasn't missed a cut since last July.

Rory Sabbatini: Remember this guy? In his first two events, he's finished in the top 12 both times, plus he tied for third last year at the Buick.

Rod Pampling: Pampling's good for about five top 10s a year, and he's coming off a stellar 65 at the FBR.

Aaron Baddeley: Badds has been playing solid golf for most of the past year without any W's. Call it a hunch that a guy who's consistently good, and one of the best putters on Tour, is due for a win soon.

C-Players
Charles Howell III: Despite a missed cut last week, Howell stands out from the "C-players" with three top 10s in six appearances at the Buick.

Luke Donald: The Donald continues to play good, consistent golf while coming back from a wrist injury. He's making his first visit to the Buick since 2006, but Donald has never finished out of the top 25 in five starts.

Wachovia Championship

We'll be going through some Tiger withdrawal this week, as the defending champion is recovering from knee surgery. But even without Tiger, it's the first of two great weeks in golf. Big events usually bring out the big names, and that's what we're banking on this week for our fantasy lineup.

Wachovia Picks
(Last 5 events are listed oldest to newest, with the most recent result at right.)

Phil Mickelson
Best Finish at Wachovia: T3 (2007)
Last 5 events: T17, T21, T20, T23, T5
With the exception of his missed cut at Pebble Beach, Mickelson hasn't finished worse than 23rd in nine events this year. His putting may keep him from winning this week, but look for Mickelson to be in the hunt.

Vijay Singh
Best Finish at Wachovia: Win (2005)
Last 5 events: T36, T5, T3, T2, T14
Singh has four top 10s in five  appearances at the Wachovia. He's been close all  season and seems due for a win.

Adam Scott
Best Finish at Wachovia: 3 (2006)
Last 5 events: T17, T9, WD, T25, Win
Scott came through with a big win last week after he nearly threw it away. The way Scott won, with a 9-footer on the final hole to force a playoff and a 48-footer to win on the third playoff hole, shows what kind of a competitor he is. He knows he can make an ever bigger statement this week with another strong finish.

Geoff Ogilvy
Best Finish at Wachovia: T10 (2006, 2004)
Last 5 events: T10, T14, 1, T2, T39
After missing three straight cuts to start the season, Ogilvy is looking like the same guy who won the U.S. Open in 2006. After another WGC win at the CA Championship in March, he almost won again in his next start, finishing second in Houston. Plus, Ogilvy has never finished outside the top 25 in four starts at Wachovia.

Jim Furyk
Best Finish at Wachovia: Win (2006)
Last 5 events: T31, T2, CUT, T33, 4
Furyk has had an up-and-down season so far with three top-5 finishes and two missed cuts. Our Tour insider said Furyk is back to putting well, so look out for him this week and next week at Sawgrass.

Sleeper

Kevin Sutherland
Best Finish at Wachovia: T10 (2004)
Last 5 events: T38, T14, T42, T8, T7
Sutherland has two-straight top 10s, and he has never missed the cut in five starts at Quail Hollow.

Players to Avoid

Luke Donald
Best Finish at Wachovia: T15 (2004)
Last 5 events: 2, CUT, T20, CUT, T19
Donald has been solid one week, then off the next. Judging by his record at Quail Hollow, Donald won't find his game this week. He has made only one cut in four starts at the Wachovia.

Stuart Appleby
Best Finish at Wachovia: T15 (2004)
Last 5 events: T10, CUT, T34, T23, T14
It's easy to pick Appleby since he is tied with Tiger Woods and Stewart Cink for the most top 10s this season. But he hasn't scored a top 10 in nearly two months, and he's only made one cut at Quail Hollow.

Zach Johnson
Best Finish at Wachovia: 84 (2007)
Last 5 events: T54, T9, T57, T20, CUT
Johnson hasn't played that well this season, and he's never played well at the Wachovia, missing three cuts in four starts.