GolfChannel.com experts offer up their picks for The Barclays. 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, Randall Mell and Jason Sobel; 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.
You can battle the experts and play along as well. Just click here to get into the game.Compete against the GolfChannel.com experts and other fans in our Fantasy Challenge.
In parentheses, next to the names, are the participants’ 2011 points earned and ranking among the 17 Fantasy Challenge ‘experts.’
Rex Hoggard (9,373,167; 4th)
Group A: Nick Watney: Plainfield will be a putting contest and few have putted better than Watney this season.
Group B: Ryan Palmer: Snubbed last year for a Ryder Cup captain’s pick, he needs a solid playoff push to get Fred Couples’ attention.
Group C: Brendon de Jonge: After Webb Simpson, de Jonge seems the next logical player destined to get off the victory schnied.
Randall Mell (7,211,379; 11th)
Group A: Steve Stricker: Whatever got off track at PGA, it’s back on track for Playoffs.
Group B: Ben Crane: Despite bad back, there are signs he’s ready to soar again.
Group C: Jerry Kelly: He made some nice runs at the PGA and Wyndham.
Charlie Rymer (8,721,935; 6th)
Group A: Luke Donald: No. 1 for a reason and this week we will see why.
Group B: Sergio Garcia: Has done everything but win this season and the Spaniard seems right at home in the New York area.
Group C: Heath Slocum: On occasion, been known to hole critical putts near the Big Apple and maybe the hole will be looking big to him this week.
Jay Coffin (12,768,387; 2nd)
Group A: Steve Stricker: He may not win, but he’ll contend, which is all I’m looking for.
Group B: Rickie Fowler: Different week, same story. Dude has to win sooner or later.
Group C: Ricky Barnes: Just a gut feeling. Another Ricky that needs a W soon.
Gary Williams (8,500,829; 8th)
Group A: Luke Donald: He has won three times worldwide and has been arguably the most consistent player in the world.
Group B: David Toms: A win at Colonial, runner-up in The Players, and a T-4 in the PGA Championship.
Group C: Kevin Streelman: Two best finishes in the PGA Tour Playoffs came in The Barclays, a T-3 in 2008 and T-4 in 2010.
Erik Kuselias (7,234,433; 10th)
Group A: Steve Stricker: With his consistency this year and past playoff success, I have to pick him.
Group B: David Toms: He won at Colonial, runner-up at TPC Sawgrass, T-4 in the PGA, and T-9 at Firestone.
Group C: Jerry Kelly: Kelly enters the playoffs having finished T-4 in Greensboro last week.
Win McMurry (14,566,955; 1st)
Group A: Steve Stricker: Stricker is a constant in the playoffs and has gotten them off to a strong start with three top-3s in the last four years.
Group B: Gary Woodland: In addition to his length off the tee he ranks ninth in GIR and his form has continued with a T12 at the PGA Championship and T4 at The Greenbrier.
Group C: Ricky Barnes: His name frequently surfaces at “big” events.
Ryan Ballengee (6,310,704; 12th)
Group A: Nick Watney: He has a win this year at a Donald Ross course when he took the AT&T National at Aronimink.
Group B: Ryan Moore: You’ll notice a theme to the picks. Moore’s lone PGA Tour win came at a Ross design at Sedgefield.
Group C: Jerry Kelly: Kelly’s been playing well of late - nice start at the PGA, nice finish at the Wyndham.
Rob Bolton (8,038,128; 9th)
Group A: Steve Stricker: Eleven consecutive top-20s. Two wins. Money in the postseason.
Group B: Webb Simpson: Wyndham win was merely part of his natural progression.
Group C: Chez Reavie: Healthy and dealin’. Five top-20s in his last six starts.
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