Fantasy Island: Transitions Championship

GolfChannel.com experts offer up their picks for the the Transitions Championship. 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 and Randall Mell; 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.

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*Ranking among the 16 GolfChannel.com experts

Rex Hoggard Score (Rank*): 3,539,727 (2)	Group A: Martin Kaymer Group B: Jonathan Byrd Group C: Kyle Stanley	Consider those back-to-back 74s on the weekend at Doral an aberration, or motivation, depending on your point of view. He’s the world No. 1 for a reason. Solid at Innisbrook (three top-10s in eight starts) and he showed signs of progress at Doral after a post-Hyundai victory slide. Rookie has been consistent this year, 7-for-7 in cuts made, and proved at the Honda he has the game to contend. The next step is learning how to close.
Randall Mell Score (Rank): 1,590,341 (14)	Group A: Paul Casey Group B: Vijay Singh Group C: Michael Bradley	Not much history at Innisbrook, but he appears on the edge of something big in Florida. A T-3 and second this year looks like it’s leading to a hoisted trophy. Riding confidence of victory in Puerto Rico to another strong performance in Florida.
Charlie Rymer Score (Rank): 2,196,327 (9)	Group A: Bubba Watson Group B: David Toms Group C: Stephen Ames	This is the Copperhead course and everybody knows Bubba ‘ain’t afraid a no snakes.’. Even thought he hasn’t been at his best as of late(and that’s being generous), this is a great layout for Toms. Ames closed with a Sunday-best 66 to finish T-3 at the Puerto Rico open last week and really looked comfortable over the ball.
John Hawkins Score (Rank): 2,025,921 (11)	Group A: Jim Furyk Group B: Sean O’Hair Group C: Chad Campbell	I think he’ll get his year going on turf that made last year so special. Good Florida player, past champion. Should be a good course for him, but then, it hardly matters if you don’t make putts.
Jay Coffin Score (Rank): 2,249,497 (8)	Group A: Nick Watney Group B: Jason Day Group C: Johnson Wagner	He may be a little drained after his victory at Doral but I’m willing to bet he at least squeaks out another top-10 finish. He’s one of the young guns that people often overlook, but at 23 years old he has a huge upside. He’ll win sometime this year. If there’s a chance to pick a 2011 PGA Tour winner in Group C, I’ll take him every time.
Gary Williams Score (Rank): 1,889,908 (14)	Group A: Martin Kaymer Group B: Vijay Singh Group C: Stephen Ames	The world No. 1 is looking to bounce back after a difficult Doral weekend and needs a strong week heading into Masters prep. Two top-3 finishes in 2011 and also has a win and a runner-up at Innisbrook. Finished T-3 last week in Puerto Rico and finished T-6 last year at Innisbrook. Has never missed the cut here
Erik Kuselias Score (Rank): 3,516,572 (3)	Group A: Retief Goosen Group B: Bill Haas Group C: Bobby Gates	Finished T-3 in Abu Dhabi earlier this year but more importantly, has a win and a fifth-place finish at Innisbrook in the last two years. Four top-12 finishes in seven starts in 2011, finished a solid T1-6 at Innisbrook in 2010, and is due for another strong week. This 2011 PGA Tour rookie has two top-6 finishes in his last three starts and is making his first appearance at Innisbrook.
Win McMurry Score (Rank): 5,135,091 (1)	Group A: Retief Goosen Group B: Jonathan Byrd Group C: Stephen Ames	He finished fifth last year and won in 2009. Goosen is looking for his first top-10 of the year this week and will come in relaxed after a friendly couple days of matches at the Tavistock Cup. He has four top-12s in the event since 2006, is already a winner this season at Kapalua and is coming off a T10 at Doral. Ames has confidence, entering the week off a T-3 in Puerto Rico and he plays well in the event with two top-10s in his last six starts. Was T-6 here last year.
Ryan Ballengee Score (Rank): 416,800 (16)	Group A: Retief Goosen Group B: Padraig Harrington Group C: Hunter Haas	He loves the Copperheard Course. The last two years, has finished at 8 under in Tampa. Once was good enough to win, the other was fifth place. Call me crazy, but the Mad Scientist seems to have been implementing those dozen swing changes nicely lately. He was tied for eighth last year. It may have come in an opposite field event, but the tie for third in Puerto Rico is a continuing sign of Haas’ trending upward. Seems like a sneaky pick.
Rob Bolton Score (Rank): 2,068,888 (10)	Group A: Nick Watney Group B: Padraig Harrington Group C: Stephen Ames	In his post-victory presser at Doral, spoke to getting right back at it on Thursday in Tampa. In the zone. Solid tee to cup at Doral to finish T10. Cashed for a T8 here last year. A grinder in his kind of paradise. Finished T3 in Puerto Rico, where he co-led the field in birdies. Top-20s at Copperhead the last two years.

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