The Fantasy Insider: RBC Canadian Open

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It's time to take off to the Great White North, work on our accents, and head over to the Glen Abbey Golf Club for a week of fun on a Jack Nicklaus-designed track. There's no specific trait that links the past champions over this course, so current form, consistency and a little special sauce will go into this week's strange handicapping brew.

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Last Week: It wasn't a Hall of Fame week, but we got some decent run in every pool at the British Open, led by Ernie Els (ninth), Ross Fisher (13th) and Angel Cabrera (24th). I spent the final three days rooting for Tom Watson anyway, like the rest of you. We're up to the 97th percentile for the season.

Fantasy Game Basics: We're picking eight players every week from three separate pools: two players from the A-List, four players from the B-List, and two players from the C-List. From round to round, you'll "start" four of those players (one of your A players, two from B, one from C), making daily changes as you see fit. If your guys play well that day or for the week, you score well. The eight players you pick at the beginning of the week are the only ones you can use and switch up during a particular tournament; the next week, you'll re-evaluate and refresh your group of eight.

You're allowed to use any player up to 10 starts for the year, and anything from 1-4 rounds in a given event counts as a single "start." As always, choose carefully, and have a long-term plan in addition to your short-term goals.

A-List Selections

CAMILO VILLEGAS (Round 1 starter): He's quietly cashed 10 straight times including a T13 last week at Turnberry and a T14 at The PLAYERS Championship; if the putter heats up a speck, well see lots of Villegas on the weekend. He hasn't done much at Glen Abbey (MC, T53) but Villegas has been successful north of the border, running 10th two years back and sixth in 2006. Villegas stands 17th in GIR and 13th in all-around ranking, two stats that always get my attention. ANTHONY KIM: It was a short week for him at the British Open but perhaps that will have him better rested for this week, and let's not forget how well he was striking the ball in his three previous events (third, T11, T16). Glen Abbey was a fit to Kim's eye right away last year (65-69-64), though he struggled to a 75 on Sunday and had to settle for an eighth-place check. He's got an excellent chance to make amends this time around. OTHER A-LIST OPTIONS: Mike Weir has wanted this tournament too badly -- he missed the cut in his first nine tries at the RBC Canadian Open. Things have come around since then, including a second in 2004 and a fifth last season. I'm expecting another four strong rounds from the left-hander ... John Mallinger's hits have been worth it; he came in second at the U.S. Bank Championship last week (falling to Bo Van Pelt in a playoff) and ran a solo sixth at the Byron Nelson Championship. Mallinger also finished seventh in his Canadian Open debut two years back on a different course. His straight driving and true putting give him a chance anywhere ... Kevin Na got back on the beam with a strong showing in Milwaukee last week (T7) and it didnt take him long to figure out Glen Abbey last year (69-66-70-68, good for eighth place). Na's game can be a little streaky at times, but he's got a dangerous putter (seventh in putting average) and the ability to go low at any time (15th in scoring) ... John Senden had nine checks in a row before last week's misstep at Turnberry, so let's cut the guy a break. The under-the-radar Aussie ranks first in greens in regulation and fourth in total driving, and that combo is going to play at almost any course.

B-List Selections

STEVE MARINO (Round 1 starter): He's one of the more talented players without a win on the PGA TOUR today, and his first 36 holes at the British Open had to boost his confidence. Marino ranks 30th in driving distance and 20th in grens in regulation, and he posted a field-high 23 birdies over this track last year. His time is coming soon. BO VAN PELT (Round 1 starter): There's nothing wrong with riding the hot player, and Van Pelt's playoff win in Milwaukee has to have his confidence surging. He's finished in the top 20 in three of his five starts at the Canadian Open, and there's a balanced stat sheet backing the Van Pelt pick (11th in total driving, 39th in putting average, 29th in scoring). Keep it rolling, big guy. FRED COUPLES: He picks his tournaments carefully these days, but he's ready to go when the assignment calls; witness his T11 at the AT&T National and T8 at the Byron Nelson in his last two starts. Freddy came back to the Canadian Open last year after a long hiatus and grabbed a respectable tie for 20th. The strengths are the same as always for the sweet-swinging Couples; he's pounding it off the tee (14th in driving distance), steady with the irons (33rd in greems in regulation) and gentle on the greens (50th in putting). I need to have him on my roster, somewhere. MARK WILSON: He's quietly in the middle of a strong year (35th in FedExCup points) and this is the sort of course where he can sneak up on the field again. I like Wilson's consistency, patience, scrambling ability, and his guts on Sunday (21st in final round scoring). He ran T22 at Glen Abbey last year. OTHER B-LIST OPTIONS: Sean O'Hair will likely be the consensus pick from this group and I can't blame the wisdom of the crowd; he's in the midst of a breakthrough campaign and he ran third at Glen Abbey last year. Alas, I've already used up eight of my ten plays on O'Hair and I want him available to me for the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, so I'll reluctantly pass on him here, even as I expect another top 20 effort and a win would not surprise me. Analyze his stat page and video all day, you're not going to find any flaws or flags; this is a star in the making ... Aaron Baddeley's confidence got a much-needed jolt over his last two starts (T25 at AT&T National, T9 at the John Deere Classic) and the layout of Glen Abbey should fit Baddeley's skill set nicely (It's not a mammoth track, and there's plenty of nuance on the greens). He's cashed three times in four starts at the Canadian Open, including a T20 in his last appearance. The timing seems right for Baddeley to make a weekend run ... Jeff Klauk broke out of a mini-slump with a tie for fourth in Milwaukee last week, but he'll be spotting the field an edge here as he makes his Glen Abbey debut. Klauk's a consistent ball striker who keeps the ball in play (13th in driving accuracy), and his lack of raw power probably won't be that big of a deal at this event ... Pat Perez is 1-for-3 in cuts made since returning to the circuit, though he did post four sub-70 rounds at the John Deere Classic two weeks back. Perez has a strong record at the Canadian Open (three finishes at T14 or better), but he missed the cut at Glen Abbey last year ... I will be pulling for Jonathan Byrd all week no matter what; he lost his father, Jim, to cancer earlier this month. Byrd has four consecutive cashes at this event, including a fifth-place finish in 2006.

C-List Selections

RETIEF GOOSEN (Round 1 starter): He's only missed two cuts all year and most of the cashes have been strong ones (his last start outside the top 30 came at the Masters in early April). Goosen might be the most underrated putter around these days and he's obviously feeling good about his game right now; I just can't leave him in the bullpen. Goose finished tied for 30th at the RBC Canadian Open last year and that's probably his floor entering this week. LUKE DONALD: It is his debut at Glen Abbey, but that's not going to sway me off the case. Cool Hand Luke is the top-ranked putter on TOUR and hes also seventh in scoring and 34th in scrambling; thats the sort of profile that should work here. OTHER C-LIST OPTIONS: Scott Verplank is coming off consecutive top-10s, and he's got a profile thats a good fit for Glen Abbey (fourth in driving accuracy, ninth in greens in regulation, 18th in putting average) ... Nick O'Hern is back in form with six straight cashes, and although he's never teed it up at this event, he seems to fit the demands of the course well. He's the type of methodical player who can figure out a new layout quickly ... Lee Janzen is another player on the comeback trail with nine cashes over his last 11 starts. He's got an odd track record at the Canadian Open; he missed the cut in the last three visits on the heels of three strong finishes (9, 48, 3). The way Janzen is striking the ball right now, I'm expecting him to play through the weekend ... Jason Dufner had a rare off week in Milwaukee but hes earned our fantasy trust through the year with 15 checks in 19 starts. The Auburn University product has the game to make a run at Glen Abbey; he stands 14th in total driving, 18th in GIR and 61st in putting.