Fantasy Insider: Ranking rest of the Hyundai TOC field

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It is an absolute pleasure and privilege to sit in this chair for another season of fantasy golf action. For those of you returning along with me, thank you for keeping the faith. It was fulfilling to hear about your successes in all kinds of formats in 2010. Never stop emailing.

Got a fantasy question for Rob? Click here to e-mail him. You can also follow Rob on his Twitter account.

If you're visiting for the first time, welcome to our quirky, little corner of the world of the game within the game. I'm here to hold to hand, provide guidance and force you into decisions, even if you disagree. Commit to your shot. If we pull the wrong club, make a note for next time. As I wrote in my intro here a year ago, "Mistakes will be made, and until they are, no one is a better fantasy owner."

One of the most common questions I field asks for where I gather the information used to formulate opinion in a given week. There's no better spot than at the top of the season to address it. Here's the shot chart:

• Course setup. GCSAA.org is a tremendous resource, and many local newspapers' web sites will include an article covering this very topic in the weeks leading up to the event.

• Weather. I'll check a minimum three resources, including at least one local meteorologist. In my experience, NOAA.gov has the best track record among the national forecasters. Anticipated precipitation and temperatures are usually reliable, but predicting wind more than 48 hours in advance is sketchy at best.

• Course statistics and rankings from the previous year(s). For now, this information is limited to media access into ShotLink. When there is something relevant to share, you'll read about in the Power Rankings on Monday.

• Recent play. PGATOUR.COM and OWGR.com are the staples here.

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• Past performance No. 1. Review of scorecards from previous appearances. Use PGATOUR.COM's "Archived Scorecards" and manipulate the URLs for previous years.

• Past performance No. 2. GolfObserver.com's performance charts are invaluable. I rarely lead with course history, but the splits can break many a tie when deciding between two or three options.

• News and quotes. Somewhere north of 90 percent of what I read and learn for players' web sites, local newspapers' sites and the like doesn't make its way into my work immediately, but all of it has value. And I read as many transcripts as time allows.

• Grapevine and miscellany. Just like with gossip at your workplace, some opinion is formed without hard evidence. You make mental notes, and then connect the dots if the rumors come to fruition. In the meantime, you wait and remain hands off. Also, major family matters like newborns, marriages and relocations all play a role in the short-term. If I believe that these life events should be considered, I'll share them, but golfers often cite personal adjustments anyway.

In this week's feature, I rank the remaining 24 golfers in the field. (The first 10 can be found in the Power Rankings. My Yahoo! lineup will now be included here, as well as my one-and-done and duffer selections. For a review of these alternative formats, please check out my Fantasy Primer.

Note: The Plantation Course at Kapalua has hosted since 1999, so referenced stats ignore previous results.

In order of projected finish:

11. Francesco Molinari ... First-timer. With five top 10s in his last eight starts worldwide, including a victory at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, the ball-striker can't be counted out anywhere, but the Power Rankings only have room for 10. The only non-member in the field.

12. Ben Crane ... Led the PGA TOUR in putting from 15-25 feet last year, and ranked second in the all-around. Secured his first multiple-win year when he triumphed at the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic.

13. Dustin Johnson ... The glaring omission from the Power Rankings hasn't cracked a top 10 in two starts here, and he carded an 80 in his last start, finishing T16 (of 18) at the Chevron World Challenge. His long-range putting needs work, too. Don't worry, he's eventually get his.

14. Jason Day ... First-timer, but he's a sneaky play. For the second straight fall, he didn't tee it up anywhere following the PGA TOUR season. Putted much better in the second half of 2010. Also moves it off the tee, which has mild value at the Plantation Course.

15. Charley Hoffman ... Just outside the tier that made the Power Rankings, if for no other reason that I need to be sold that his second-half form from 2010 is the new norm, not a spike. His all-around game would suggest longer-term dominance. Also remains one of the most underrated putters on TOUR.

16. Zach Johnson ... Ended the year strong, just as he did in 2009, but then finished 18th here last January. I chalked it up primarily to the adjustment to the channel grooves, but he overcame. Can't believe that this is already his fifth (and fourth straight) start at Kapalua.

Garrigus

17. Robert Garrigus ... First-timer. Dark horse, although there really aren't any in the winners-only opener. First start since his breakthrough at Disney. Aggressive sort that won't get penalized off the tee from which he led the TOUR in distance in 2010. Underrated iron game.

18. Jonathan Byrd ... First start since his historic ace at TPC Summerlin. Hits lots of greens and his mid-range putting is nails, making him a good fit this week. Closed out a T6 in 2003 with a 63, one off the course record.

19. Bubba Watson ... First-timer. Plugging him into this course should be like watching a video game. Expecting sheer enjoyment and ridiculous numbers off the tee. However, more to our point, his putting will be exposed outside 10 feet.

20. Camilo Villegas ... After a largely forgettable summer, he rebounded with four top 15s in his last five starts worldwide in 2010. (That includes a T14 at the 18-man Chevron World Challenge, however.) Preferable on a track that requires more creativity, clutch putting and difficulty.

21. Arjun Atwal ... First-timer. Stayed busy and fresh following the Fall Series, making four starts capped by a T5 in India a month ago. True wild card this week, but I love his long-term value.

22. Bill Haas ... First-timer. If he has a weakness, it's his mid- to long-range putting. Wouldn't mind giving his one look before investing next time.

23. Ian Poulter ... First-timer. Gotta love what's gotten into this guy over the last three months, with six top 15s in as many starts, including a win in Hong Kong and infamous runner-up in Dubai. The question is if he can parlay his latest stroke-play proficiency into a consistent full season on the PGA TOUR. Despite his breakthrough at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, he was more reliable in 2009.

24. Ryan Palmer ... It's hard to finish outside the top 25 in two appearances at this event, but he's done it. That changes this week, however. Once he fixed his equipment snafu in the second half of 2010, he rattled of 11 consecutive paydays.

25. Anthony Kim ... "Progressing" is the operative term here. In nine starts worldwide since returning from surgery on his left thumb, a T16 at the 18-man Chevron World Challenge is his best effort. Let your opposition rely on the prospects that his share of second place here in 2009 suggest.

26. Stuart Appleby ... All or nothing, here and now. There's no denying his trio of titles from 2004-06, but they are his only top 10s in six starts at Kapalua. Moreover, while he has two wins worldwide dating back to The Greenbrier Classic five months ago, they are his only top 10s in his last 22 starts. Consider in one-and-dones only.

27. Jason Bohn ... Failed to post a top 20 in his last 14 starts. The Hawaiian hills could do a number on his back.

28. Matt Bettencourt ... First-timer. Victory in Reno was his only top 15 of the year. No confidence in the short-term here until he heats up, which he's proven he will do once a year.

Pettersson

29. Carl Pettersson ... All but disappeared following his title at the RBC Canadian Open last summer. No top 15s in three previous tries at the Plantation Course either. Stick with the long-term here.

30. Heath Slocum ... You don't expect him to perform well at Kapalua, and he hasn't, with no top 20s in three appearances. He was also last on TOUR in 2010 in putting from 15-25 feet.

31. Bill Lunde ... First-timer. All three of his top 20s last year were in opposite events, including the victory at the final Turning Stone Resort Championship. No reason to hop aboard this week. Long-term value only, and minimal at that.

32. Rocco Mediate ... Distant co-runner-up here in 2003, his last start. Fortunate to be in the field thanks to a magical week at the Frys.com Open, site of his only top 10 in the last 16 months. Gotta think how much the changes in elevation will affect his back.

33. Derek Lamely ... First-timer. While he's exempt through 2012, this is a golden opportunity to showcase the kind of form that led to his breakthrough in the Puerto Rico Open, but he hasn't posted a top 35 in his last 18 starts. And he was T186 on TOUR in proximity to the hole last year, worst among the 34 in this field.

34. Cameron Beckman ... Danger. First start since sharing sixth place at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in October. Couldn't participate in an exhibition in Mexico a couple of weeks later due to a tendon injury in his right hand.

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