AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am: Fantasy Golf Picks
As the PGA Tour heads to the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, make sure you have your fantasy golf lineups all set. Last week Phil Mickelson rewarded his owners with a dominant wek on his way to winning the 2013 Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
After Phil absolutely destroyed the field in Phoenix las week, he’ll head to Pebble Beach with the rest of the PGA Tour to defend his title from last year’s AT&T National Pro-Am.
The format is a bit different than a typical 72 hole tourney as the Pro-Am is played on three different courses to accomodate the amateurs and celebrities involved. Of the three courses, the one that scores lowest is the Monterey Peninsula Country Club’s Shore Course, so take advantage of players going low on that course. The cut situation is a bit different too since the cut comes after round three and only the top 60 pros (and ties) play Sunday at Pebble Beach in the final round.
Last week was a low-scoring week overall for our Fantasy CPR group (which you can still join by clicking here). G_Turcotte won the week in our group with a 159 thanks to a sizzling finish from Scott Piercy earning him low score of the day on Sunday and a solo third. My entry managed to get back into the top 1,000 in the country with a 130 behind a solid week from Brandt Snedeker and Jason Day making the cut to keep points coming from a tricky C-List.
When the draw comes out, I may adjust these picks slightly to get players on different courses, but I’ll post an update tomorrow if I do. Before the tee times come out, these are the players I’m planning on playing this week:
A-List
Phil Mickelson- Picking against Phil could be hazardous to your entry after last week’s dominating victory. He won this event last year making him a four-time winner and the all-time money leader at this event. He’s an obvious pick to be sure, but not having him could cost you since his form and history indicate he’ll be around if not on top of the leaderboard on Sunday.
Padraig Harrington- Paddy got off to a great start to his PGA Tour season last week in his first career appearance in Phoenix. He’s played well in this even recently with top 20s in two fo the last three years including a t7 finish last year. Harrington shot a four under 66 on the Shore Course last year so I’ll get him in the lineup for his round there as long as its not the same as Phil’s.
B-List
Feb 12, 2012; Pebble Beach CA, USA; Dustin Johnson hits his tee shot on the sixteenth hole during the final round of the AT
Hunter Mahan- Mahan finished t15 last year at Pebble Beach and has top 20s in four of his last seven appearances at Pebble. He bounced back from a tough opening week to get into the top 20 the last two weeks. He’s finished runner-up here in 2011 and could be one of the group chasing the lead on Sunday.
Jimmy Walker- Coming off back-to-back top tens the last two years in this event, Walker finished t4 two weeks ago in the Farmers Insurance Open and had three solid rounds last week but an even par third round dropped him to t54. Walker has a solid history here and has made an amazing 13 consecutive cuts.
Dustin Johnson- DJ has a great history at Pebble Beach too with two wins and three other top tens. He won to start the year at Kapalua and has a chance to be the first two-time winner if he can top Phil and the Phield this week. I’m going to start him on my bench since I’m down to seven Johnson starts. If he’s in contention or if my other B-listers struggle, I’ll get him in quickly.
Steve Marino- Marino has a pair of top five’s in his last two starts at this event before sitting out last year’s tournament due to injury. He’s coming off a t15 at the Farmers after taking a week off.
February 3, 2013; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Bryce Molder hits out of the sand on the sixteenth hole during the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
C-List
Bryce Molder- Molder’s made all three cuts in the events he’s played this year with a pair of top 25’s including a t24 last week. He’s had success in this event in the past with a pair of top 10’s in 2012 and 2011 before a t69 MDF last year.
Ryan Palmer-Palmer has also made all three cuts in the events he’s played this year with a t6 and a solo fifth in his last two events. Last year at this event he finished t29 on the strength of a a -6 on the Shore Course where I’ll make sure to have him active for this year’s rotation.