Fantasy Insider: Best of the rest, others to avoid in Augusta

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Ah, the smell of acid is in the air! First, the Tiger Woods' haters began to populate my e-mail box, if for no other reason than they wanted to vent in the wake of yesterday's press conference. Fair enough. Lots of great points, too.

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Then, once my Power Rankings were released, those debating the absence of Phil Mickelson started to queue. If I ever needed a reminder of the spike in the interest of golf during the majors, consider me notified.

At the risk of sounding defensive, the only problem I have with it is that so many of the opinions are static. In other words, there is rhyme and reason why Mickelson was omitted. Sure, I wouldn't be surprised if he contends at the Masters, but he didn't earn a spot in our usual Monday feature. That's all.

Below are others on whom you had to wait until today to get my take. For the record, as of my deadline, only four of you have complained about Mickelson's absence, so maybe I'm on to something.

MORE: Rookie Watch | Medical Extensions | Reshuffle | Major qualifiers

TOP PICKS: See Power Rankings for Ernie Els, Anthony Kim, Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods.

Phil Mickelson -- Since joining the PGA TOUR in June 1992, this is the first year that he hasn't had a top five before the Masters, and just the third time that he hasn't won this deep into a season (1999, 2003). I'm not debating his abilities at Augusta National, but even he has to be wondering if this will be the first week of 2010 that he puts four solid rounds together.

Vijay Singh -- For the record, his withdrawal in Houston was due to sore abdominal muscles related to recovery from his back issue. Bright side? At least it's not the knee.

Justin Leonard -- Entering the Shell Houston Open, he was on my short list of candidates for this week's Power Rankings, but he was one of the last cut in favor of Charl Schwartzel. What I love here is that he's transformed a poor start into a surging trend (three straight top 25s coming in). Not enough value here to crack the Yahoo! game this week though.

Zach Johnson -- Still attempting to solve the grooves rollback. Period.

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TOP PICKS: See Power Rankings for Jim Furyk, Retief Goosen, Padraig Harrington and Lee Westwood.

K.J. Choi -- OK, so we learned on Tuesday that he'll be paired with Tiger Woods for the first two rounds. In a vacuum, that really doesn't bother me because Choi has proven his mettle over time. What we don't know is if there were any discussions among the players and Masters' officials regarding who would be willing to accept that pairing. Logically, if that discussion did occur, then I like Choi even more, particularly since he's been so consistent this year.

David Toms -- He wrote on his Web site on Monday that he's not having surgery on his right shoulder for the foreseeable future. He'll play through the pain, which is to say that you should allow him to do so alone.

Ben Curtis -- Now, I know better than to hop on his bandwagon for a sprint, but he has earned this spot on your screen this week. He placed T14 in Houston thanks to an eight-birdie 65 on Sunday, but I was more impressed that he finished T2 in fairways hit and T5 in greens in regulation. In his seven years eligible for the Masters, the SHO payday was his first top 30 in an immediately-preceding event. Since it's all about momentum with this guy, and because he was striking it so well at Redstone, you should find a place for him in your Yahoo! lineup. Ignore his history here.

Robert Allenby -- I was getting emails in late February on his chances this week. Indeed, his ball-striking alone is worth a top 25. If his distance control is spot on, he'll record a career-best finish here (T22 in 2006 is his previous best). Of the six Aussies in the field this week, Allenby is the most likely to become the first from his homeland to win the Masters.

Nick Watney -- With that solo fourth at the Transitions, he's a sexy pick for the second straight year. And with top 20s in both career starts here, it has relevance. Truly a complete player that just needs more reps. Still only 28 years young and deserves to be on your short list.

Camilo Villegas -- Turned a corner here last year, finishing T13 for his first payday in three starts. Course management should be at the top of his agenda this week. If he can summon the game that won at The Honda Classic - T22 in fairways hit, T2 in GIR, T2 in putting - he'll be the first Colombian to win a major. Do not rule that out.

Geoff Ogilvy -- Good for a paycheck this week but he's still looking for his first top 25 in a stroke-play event since winning at Kapalua three months ago.

Sean O'Hair -- Eh. Underwhelming 2010 - he still might be adjusting to a confidence level since recovering from his forearm injury - but seems comfy at Augusta National, with top 15s in each of the last two years. I'm more interested in this cat at his defense at Quail Hollow in three weeks.

Rory McIlroy -- Don't do it. He won't find his game at the Masters.

Stewart Cink -- No thanks. He's been sloppy lately. No margin of error for that kind of game this week.

Kevin Na -- This first-timer needs to improve his ball-striking. He's always been a wicked putter, but par wins U.S. Opens, not the Masters. Scratch him out if you had him penciled in after his T2 at Bay Hill.

Dustin Johnson -- Zero mojo entering the week. A win would be similar to the trick Angel Cabrera turned last year.

Chad Campbell -- If I had an arch enemy in fantasy golf, this is the guy. But frankly, that's a good thing. His game translates so well on paper - or used to at least - that he never can be ruled out. Of course, he's the forgotten "other" playoff loser last year, but his thirst for redemption is as strong as Kenny Perry's. Campbell has had a nearly identical start in 2010 as he had in '09, but I've learned that it means nothing in the short-term for the guy. He's an enigma but I'm supporting him this week. You know what that means ...

Oliver Wilson -- A fair comparison to an American to his game would be Jim Furyk. In other words, Wilson might be too short off the tee to win the Masters, but he also does a phenomenal job of keeping the course in front of him and minimizing mistakes. Sleeper material this week.

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TOP PICKS: See Power Rankings for Matt Kuchar and Charl Schwartzel.

Angel Cabrera -- He's a flier every time he tees it up anyway, so this week is no different. Consider that he was under par in all four rounds during his victory here a year ago, but hadn't broken par in the four rounds in non-majors the previous two weeks.

Paul Casey -- Bone up on what he says regarding his injured shoulder and then decide. I'm hands off despite how he's played coming in and the three top 20s in his last three starts here.

Martin Kaymer -- A trap. Remember, experience is rewarded first and foremost at the Masters. Kaymer is 0-for-2 and hasn't played at weekend pins yet. He's still scouting.

Ian Poulter -- He's cashed in all five appearances here, including top 25s the last three years, and it hasn't mattered how he's played immediately preceding the tournament. If you're skittish about Matt Kuchar's pairing with Tiger Woods (I'm not), then Poulter is a nice alternate for the Yahoo! game, especially since you'll come nowhere near exhausting 10 starts on him.

Tim Clark -- Has the kind of game suited for and pedigree at Augusta National that qualifies him as the primary candidate to become the first since Angel Cabrera at the 2007 U.S. Open to make a major his first PGA TOUR victory. Clark is eighth on TOUR in driving accuracy, and he's first in putting. While his recent play isn't noteworthy, it isn't dreadful either.

Edoardo Molinari -- (As of my deadline, he was not listed in a Group for the Yahoo! game.) The elder of the amazing Molinari brothers finished T2 at Bay Hill two weeks ago, where he had just seven holes over par. He is as dynamic as he is an unknown commodity. Somewhere, Constantino Rocca is beaming.

Rob Bolton is PGATOUR.COM's new fantasy columnist. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the PGA TOUR. To contact Rob, please e-mail him at FantasyInsider@charter.net.