He’s back! No offense to 2010 winners Geoff Ogilivy, Ryan Palmer, and Bill Haas but this week the PGA tour will regain its swagger. He’s a polarizing figure, and in light of recent events his future in golf is somewhat unknown. Just his mere presence in a tournament raises the level of competition, and for the first time in 2010 golf fans will get to see the famous logo that has become synonymous with this golfer’s own personal brand.

The path to number one in the world has been cleared for Phil Mickelson. Photo Credit: minds-eye

KPMG obviously, what else could I be referencing?

Phil Mickelson makes his opening appearance in the 2010 PGA Tour season at this week’s Farmer’s Insurance Open played at Torrey Pines. Mickelson is a three-time winner at Torrey Pines, but he hasn’t won since 2001.

Mickelson is actually a bit of a risk this week from a fantasy golf perspective. This may not be the best tournament to use a precious Mickelson fantasy start or spend the salary cap dollars to play him. He’s finished outside the Top 40 in three of the last five years.

But Mickelson playing at Torrey Pines certainly brings a big tourney field. This may finally get people talking about what is happening on the golf course more than what is happening off it.

Farmers Insurance Open (formerly the Buick Invitational)
Purse - $5,300,000.00
Winner Share - $954,000.00
FedEx Cup Points – 3500 (500 to winner)

Course – Torrey Pines North and South, San Diego, California
Those of us who grew up playing golf video games have a special place in our hearts for Torrey Pines. It was one of the first actual golf courses featured in video games, and is still a popular choice for today’s games.

The players split the first 36 holes of the tournament between the South course and the much-shorter North course. The final 36 holes are played on the South course. Torrey Pines will have a fairly easy set up for this tournament, and more often than not the winner finishes double digits under par.

Weekly Picks –

Phil Mickelson
I do recommend Phil Mickelson this week, but with strings attached. Mickelson and Tiger Woods have been the David Letterman and Jay Leno of the PGA Tour. Like Letterman, Mickelson is quirky. He’s also a great golfer, but no matter what he does he seemed to always finish second to Woods (like Letterman finished second to Leno in the ratings).

In 2009, Leno opened the door for Letterman when he moved to primetime, Conan O’Brien took his 11:35 time slot, and Letterman took over the late night battle. Along the way both Leno and NBC tarnished their image. Even when Leno does return to the Tonight Show, he’s going to have a hard time catching Letterman.

Sound similar Mickelson and Woods? Woods’ absence has presented Mickelson with an opportunity to seize the world number one ranking, and Lefty knows this. I expect him to charge out of the gates in 2010, leaving Woods and everyone else on Tour in his dust. Woods, like Leno, slipped with his biggest rival hot on his tail, and Mickelson got the break he’s been waiting for.

In the fantasy game, however, it’s not always wise to use all of your “marquee” starts early in the season. Using Mickelson in his first outing of 2010 may be considered a bit of gamble because of the value of his fantasy starts, but I fully expect Mickelson to be in contention on the back nine on Sunday.

Bubba Watson
It scares me a little that Watson was in a tough battle atop the Bob Hope leaderboard on Monday afternoon. Competing for the championship of one tournament, and then starting another on two-days rest is a difficult proposition.

On the flip side, Watson could continue his hot play into the Farmers Insurance Open. He finished tied seventh last year and tied fourth in 2007, which is as good a recent record as any of the other A-list fantasy options this week. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t finish in the Top 10.

Nick Watney
So maybe this is a “cop out.” Maybe it’s easy to recommend the defending champion as a fantasy option. Maybe a fantasy golf novice could make this pick.

Unfortunately, I can’t ignore the one glaring fact about Watney and this tournament. He is the only person to win this event since 2005 not named Tiger Woods. Watney’s really the only non-big name player to win this tournament in the new Millennium. The 28-year-old also finished tied ninth in 2007.

Charles Howell III
Greg Kinzer has guided many fantasy players to victory, and I loved his Charles Howell III pick last week (Just so you know Greg, George McNeill finished ahead of CHIII and Pat Perez last week).

Kinzer is absolutely correct about Howell, he often plays well in the beginning of the season. In his two events this year, he tied for fifth at the Sony Open and tied 26th at the Bob Hope Classic. Howell has finished second to Woods in this event twice since 2005.

Lucas Glover
This tournament has always been a feast or famine event for the 2009 U.S. Open Champion. Lucas Glover finished tied third in this event last season, tied 67th in 2008, missed the cut in 2007, and tied fourth in 2006.

Glover has had two bad rounds in 2010, the final round of the SBS Championship (76) and the first round of the Sony Open (75).  Other than that he’s been very impressive.

Robert Allenby
Robert Allenby doesn’t play in the Torrey Pines event very often. His best finish in the event was a tied ninth performance in 2007. However, anyone who watched Allenby at the Sony Open a couple weeks ago had to come away impressed. Allenby shot 65, 67, 67, and 67 in that event and looked like he had total control of every shot. I’m not afraid to start him after only one tournament, especially when I want consistency out of my B-tier players.

John Rollins
If I had to pick one C-list fantasy player to win this tournament, it’s without a doubt John Rollins. He’s started the 2010 season with a tied eighth and a tied 14th. He finished second in this event last season and had a tied fourth finish in 2006.

Nathan Green
In 2006, Nathan Green was a playoff against Tiger Woods away from winning this event. It may be worth using the Australian this week, as he’s off to a good start in 2010 and has contended in this event in the past.

Salary Cap Options –
The players below are suggestions for fantasy players in salary cap leagues, who are looking for inexpensive options.

Marc Leishman – The Aussie finished tied 26th in the event last year, his first trip to Torrey Pines. He finished tied 20th in the Sony Open.

Graham Dalaet – Newcomer has two Top 25 finishes in two 2010 events.

Ryuji Imada – Imada loves this tournament. He has three consecutive 20th or better finishes, including second place in 2008.

Nate’s News Notes

While most of the golf controversy has been off the course recently, Mickelson may bring more attention to an on the course “rule bending” that’s been taking place in 2010. At the Sony Open, both John Daly and Dean Wilson used pre-1990 Ping Eye2 wedges. This older equipment doesn’t comply with the current standards for grooves on wedges, but they are legal to use since they were manufactured prior to the rule change. Mickelson is going to see if there is any backlash from other players, but he may use these wedges, which he had stowed away in his garage.

*All stats up-to-date as of 01/26/10.

Need more fantasy golf advice? Email natepigott@rotoexperts.com or follow Nate at twitter.com/superfan99.

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