Fantasy Insider: WGC Bridgestone Invitational

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If you are new to Yahoo!'s fantasy golf game, or even if you are wrapping your head around the FedExCup, then this is the perfect time to alert you that this week and next (PGA Championship) are the last two times you'll see the elite non-members during the regular season and Playoffs. Non-members are ineligible for the Playoffs and Yahoo!'s game ends with The TOUR Championship. Some may also squeeze into the field at the Wyndham Championship in two weeks, but gamers cannot rely on that possibility, especially when you have the certainty of these next two events.

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WGC BRIDGESTONE

Tee Times
Inside the course
Choosing sides

Therefore, if you're saving starts on specific guys that are projected to go all the way to East Lake, consider giving them a breather until the Playoffs begin. Of course, every gamer's situation is different, and there is no cut this week; but if you're on a fence, look to non-members to help bridge the gap between now and the postseason.

In the Matchups game on Facebook, I enjoyed a 4-1-0 week at The Greenbrier Classic to go 16-7-3 overall. I also kept my slim lead over GarrySmits of The Florida Times-Union in the notables, 39-37. And while I'm ineligible for prizes, I'm tied for 17th overall, 10 points back of outright leader, glfhcp10, who tallied a perfect 12 points last week.

My picks for the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational:
• Phil Mickelson over Tiger Woods
• Rory McIlroy over Darren Clarke
• Rickie Fowler over Jason Day
• Nick Watney over Luke Donald
• Steve Stricker over Hunter Mahan

The PGATOUR.com staff also publishes its picks, which you can review here.

NOTE: While there are a couple of references to the Reno-Tahoe Open below, only the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational is included in Yahoo!'s game.

Power Rankings Plus

11. Bill Haas ... Lost in the playoff at The Greenbrier Classic -- his second defeat in sudden death this year (Bob Hope Classic) -- but it was merely the latest in a series of strong efforts. Now has six top 10s in 19 starts. Ranks ninth on TOUR in total driving and seventh in both greens in regulation and bogey avoidance.

12. Adam Scott ... Sits 17th on the PGA TOUR in total driving and 49th in greens hit. Also enters following a share of third at the AT&T National and a T25 at the British Open. Tied for ninth here last year.

13. Matt Kuchar ... Barring a withdrawal or disqualification, his missed cuts streak will end at two this week. Uncharacteristically struggled in hitting the greens at Shaughnessy two weeks ago (just 17 over 36 holes), which is why he didn't crack the Power Rankings at Firestone. Still, he's currently 24th on TOUR in GIR and sixth in bogey avoidance.

14. Simon Dyson ... Shared 71st place in his debut here a year ago, but entered the week having missed four of his previous five cuts. This time around, the Englishman arrives on the coattails of a victory at the Irish Open and six top 25s in his last eight starts.

15. Alexander Noren ... Coming off a win at the Nordea Masters, his second title in just six starts (Wales Open). In his first appearance here last year, faded to finish T53 due to a final-round 76 that included two bogeys, two doubles and an opening triple at the par-4 first hole. Currently 27th on the European Tour in greens in regulation.

Power Rankings Distribution for Yahoo! (rank)

Group A ... Dustin Johnson (1); Lee Westwood (2); Nick Watney (6); Matt Kuchar (13)

Group B ... Steve Stricker (3); Bo Van Pelt (4); Charl Schwartzel (7); Sean O'Hair (9); Hunter Mahan (10); Bill Haas (11)

Group C ... Martin Kaymer (5); Rory McIlroy (8); Adam Scott (12); Simon Dyson (14); Alexander Noren (15)

Dark Horse (Yahoo! Group)

Gary Woodland (C) ... Lumped in here in this deep field only because he's a first-timer at Firestone. Of course, he's heard that song and dance before and it didn't prevent him from breaking through at the Transitions Championship or finishing alone in sixth place at the Memorial. This is also his first start in a World Golf Championships event. He ranks 17th on TOUR in total driving and 11th in greens hit. Also coming off a T4 at The Greenbrier Classic, where he led the field in distance off the tee and finished T6 in GIR.

Bubba Watson (B) ... Held a two-stroke lead after his opening 64 last year in what was his first competitive round at Firestone. He's go on to finish T22. Ranks 19th on TOUR in total driving (thanks to sitting second in distance) and second in greens hit. Rebounded from a stale stretch of no top 25s in seven starts with a share of sixth in his most recent appearance at the Nordea Masters.

Rickie Fowler (B) ... Qualified as a rookie last year and tied for 33rd. Ranks 86th in greens hit but sixth in birdie average, so he relies on finding a groove and riding it. Also sits a lofty third and fourth in birdies or better on par 3s and 4s, respectively, which has some additional relevance on par-70 tracks like Firestone. His underrated distance off the tee could be the catalyst to contention.

Jason Day (C) ... His T68 at the John Deere Classic was more surprising than a T30 at the British Open, but he's posted five top 10s in eight starts overall since the Masters. Long enough off the tee and ranks 13th in bogey avoidance. His so-so rank of 85th in greens in regulation is neutralized by sitting third in scrambling. Also finished T22 here in his debut last year.

Jeff Overton (B) ... Hot or cold for weeks now, with a T3 at the AT&T National and T8 at the Bryon Nelson mixed in between 11 results outside the top 25 since March, but he's missed only two cuts. Overall, he's hitting more fairways but finding fewer greens than 2010. As a result, his birdie average has slipped even though his putting hasn't changed. Gets a look here primarily due to last year's T6 in his first start here during what was a torrid summer.

Danger (Yahoo! Group)

Lucas Glover (A) ... Since winning at Quail Hollow three months ago, his only top-35 finish in eight starts is a T12 at the British Open. Whenever I incorporate results from majors, I'll only lean on the positive, but he hasn't supported his week at Royal St. George's with success elsewhere in too long. And while he has a good track record at Firestone, there are more deserving investments for gamers in the Yahoo!'s game.

Y.E. Yang (B) ... In his last 10 starts worldwide, he's posted five top 25s and missed five cuts. Rested since a T16 at the British Open, which chased a T3 at the U.S. Open, he continues to validate his position on the world stage. However, his only top-45 finish in three tries at Firestone was a T19 in 2009.

Paul Casey (B) ... Stellar record here, with five top 20s in eight starts, but he's dealing with turf toe on the big toe in his right foot. In his last four starts entering the week, he's missed three cuts and finished T54 at the British Open.

Ryan Moore (C) ... A rare fade this week due to surprisingly forgettable efforts at Aronimink and Shaughnessy in recent weeks. Ranks 144th on TOUR in greens in regulation, but finished T16 here in his first appearance last year, carding four rounds of par or better in the process. Bit of a trap as a result.

Jonathan Byrd (A) ... Has missed four consecutive cuts and hasn't broken par in his last nine rounds. In his only previous appearance at Firestone, finished T71 in 2003.

Medic! (Yahoo! Group)

Tiger Woods (A) ... In response to a question at today's presser of how long it's been since he's "felt this good physically," he responded, "Years, plural. Just plural." Last year's T78 here was likely an anomaly given the priorities off the course at the time, so look for an improved effort this week. Never rule him out based on any one variable, but most golfers that are sidelined for an extended time due to injury (as Woods has been since THE PLAYERS) typically struggle finding the touch on the greens. However, he's won seven times in 10 trips to Firestone and has opened with a score north of 68 just once (2010), so his first round will serve as a reasonable barometer following today's stated confidence.

David Toms (B) ... Returning to competition since withdrawing from the John Deere Classic after nine holes due to a hip injury. Spent Monday scoping out the Atlanta Athletic Club for next week's PGA Championship, but said the following to the <i>Shreveport Times</i>, "I haven't played golf and walked though," with the emphasis on the combination of the two activities. "I had a push cart with (son) Carter in his tournaments and all the golf I played I took a cart, so we'll see how it holds up this week." He hasn't has a top 20 at Firestone since 2006.

Boo Weekley (C) ... Scheduled to play the Reno-Tahoe Open for the first time since his one appearance in 2002. Sidelined a month since withdrawing after one round of the AT&T National due to a rib injury. Currently 153rd in FedExCup points.

Michael Putnam (C) ... Scheduled to play in Reno. Forced to withdraw after 29 holes of last week's Greenbrier Classic due to a wrist injury. He was an aggregate 5-over-par when he called it quits.

Notable WDs (Yahoo! Group)

Thomas Levet (C) ... The Frenchman broke his right leg on July 3 while celebrating his victory in his national open. Three days later, he tweeted that he'd be out 4-6 weeks following surgery. Technically, this is the fourth week since, so it was an aggressive timeline to compete at Firestone anyway.

Ross Fisher (C) ... Placed T17 at the Irish Open, and then stayed in the country to be with his three-month-old son, who is in the hospital. According to Fisher's manager, Conor Ridge, the boy is expected to be OK.

Rob Bolton is the freelance fantasy columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of the PGA TOUR.