This week the PGA Tour heads to Hilton Head for the RBC Heritage, as a full field of 144 players will vie for the tartan jacket. Each week, a panel of experts will offer up their picks from four 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 includes: senior writers Rex Hoggard, Randall Mell and Jason Sobel; contributors John Hawkins and Win McMurry; editorial director Jay Coffin; ‘Morning Drive’ host Gary Williams and staff writer Ryan Lavner. They will also be joined by former ‘Saturday Night Live’ star Norm Macdonald, who will serve as a celebrity guest throughout the fantasy season.
Win McMurry
Group 1: Brandt Snedeker: He won here in 2011 and finished T-17 in his title defense last year. Sunday at the Masters, he finished T-6. He’s been out of the hunt since the Tour moved east, but his West Coast finishes included four top-3s capped off by the win at Pebble Beach.
Group 2: Zach Johnson: He was the runner-up last year and comes in off a T-35 finish at the Masters. He’s still hunting his first top-10 finish this year, and I think he gets it here on the coast.
Group 3: Boo Weekley: Really tough to pick in this group. I wavered between Stewart Cink, Weekley, Brian Davis and Charley Hoffman. Ultimately picking Boo because when you look at his past results this year, he has two top 10s in his last six starts, including a runner-up in Tampa. He also has TWO wins at Harbour Town and tied for sixth here last year. Believe it or not, he had stronger stats here than any of the others.
Group 4: Colt Knost: He doesn’t have much to hang his hat on this year, but he didn’t have much more last year when he came into this event and finished solo third. It’s a course where distance off the tee is not so important, which works to Knost’s advantage, and putting is more of the focus where Knost, despite his subpar season, is 29th in strokes gained putting.
Rex Hoggard
Group 1: Brandt Snedeker: Sunday’s finish at Augusta National will be tough to get over, but his sixth-place finish at the Masters is a sign that Sneds has rediscovered the form that led him to runner-up finishes at Torrey Pines and Phoenix and victory at Pebble Beach earlier this season.
Group 2: Bo Van Pelt: What the veteran lacks in victories (he’s won just once on Tour) he makes up for in consistency. He’s missed just five cuts in his last 36 global starts and was solid last week at Augusta National (T-20).
Group 3: Jonas Blixt: John Huh was the 2012 Rookie of the Year, but an argument could have been made that the Swede had a better year and he seems poised for another breakout season.
Group 4: Dicky Pride: If you’re looking for an excuse to pick the affable journeyman, this is your week. Pride ranks 29th on the PGA Tour in driving accuracy and Harbour Town is the year’s most demanding driving test (non-major division).
Jason Sobel
Group 1: Jim Furyk: He’s hitting the ball well once again, and should feel some good vibes on a course where he’s won in the past.
Group 2: Tim Clark: There aren’t too many PGA Tour venues that suit his game, but Harbour Town’s tight fairways and small greens are right up his alley.
Group 3: Brian Gay: Another past champion at this event, don’t be surprised if this putter supreme joins Tiger Woods as the second multiple winner this year.
Group 4: Matt Jones: Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oy, oy, oy. Perhaps Adam Scott’s victory will inspire his Australian mates to pull a few more wins of their own.
Randall Mell
Group 1: Jim Furyk: Horses for courses pick as a former winner at Hilton Head, plus his form looks promising.
Group 2: Bill Haas: Not a great record at RBC, but he’s playing very well this year - well enough to win.
Group 3: Boo Weekley: Terrific ball-striker and a two-time winner who comes to life in this event.
Group 4: Lucas Glover: South Carolina native enjoyed a tie for fourth at Honda just last month.
