Expert
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Fantasy selections
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Projected champion
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Helen
Ross
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Luke Donald, Chris Kirk
Phil Mickelson, Jimmy Walker
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Phil
Mickelson
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I think Phil's performance last week was an aberration -- and he proved at Phoenix how quickly he can right the ship. So look for the two-time champion and last year's runner-up to have a big week on a course he really enjoys playing.
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Rob
Bolton
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Ryan Moore, Charl Schwartzel
Kevin Stadler, Jimmy Walker
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Ryan
Moore
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| You could make a case for about 30 guys in this deep field, but I won’t deviate from No. 1 in my Power Rankings, Ryan Moore. |
Amanda
Balionis
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Keegan Bradley, Luke Donald
James Hahn, Chris Kirk
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Chris
Kirk |
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Kirk does not have a strong history at the NTO, missing the cut in his two previous starts. However, Kirk's game is in great shape and his confidence is high which makes me confident about my pick this week. Oh, and when apparently in '13, when you finish as the runner-up ... it's a good omen for the following week.
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Anne
Szeker
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Keegan Bradley, Luke Donald
Adam Scott, Jimmy Walker
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Adam
Scott
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The Aussie closed 2012 with a win at the Australia Masters and has rested since. He's got a solid record at Riviera (unofficial champion in 2005, runner-up the following year), and is sure to start his 2013 season right where he left off in 2012.
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Bill
Cooney
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Aaron Baddeley, Keegan Bradley
Sergio Garcia, Matt Kuchar
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Aaron
Baddeley
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| Baddeley, the 2011 winner here, is off to a hot start in 2013, having carded a pair of top 12s in four events. He's also got it rolling again on the greens, ranking ninth in strokes gained-putting. I like how Kuchar and Garcia are playing, and Bradley was good enough to get in a playoff last season. I really like these picks. |
Mike
McAllister
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Aaron Baddeley, Luke Donald
Charl Schwartzel, Jimmy Walker
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Charl
Schwartzel
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| If Snedeker's the hottest player in the world, Schwartzel might be the next hottest. He won two events in December by huge margins, and comes off a second-place finish at the European Tour's Joburg Open. Can his carry the momentum into his 2013 season debut on TOUR? |
Ryan
Smithson
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Graeme McDowell, Bo Van Pelt
Jimmy Walker, Bubba Watson
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Bubba
Watson
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It might be a coincidence, but left-handers do well at Riviera (Weir, Mickelson) and I expect Bubba to win here at least once in his career. Walker's a no-brainer here, Van Pelt is due, and G-Mac seems to prefer the L.A. area.
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Chris
Dunham
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Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia
Bo Van Pelt, Jimmy Walker
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Luke
Donald
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| Rolling the dice taking two guys (Donald, Garcia) in their 2013 TOUR debuts but both have games that fit well at Riviera. Van Pelt has started slow but the time is now for him to get his 2013 campaign rolling. |
John
Swantek
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Luke Donald, Hunter Mahan
Jimmy Walker, Lee Westwood
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Hunter
Mahan
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| Left Mickelson off the board; he looks a little spent after four in a row. Westwood (second start) and Donald (first) will be fresher. Walker T9 at Pebble at has been T4 in L.A. the last 2 years. Mahan is trending toward a win, which will come a week before his title defense in Tucson. |
John
Schwarb
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Bill Haas, Ryan Moore
Charl Schwartzel, Jimmy Walker
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Jimmy
Walker
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Following in the Snedeker style of a guy winning in 2013 after a string of high finishes -- Walker has two top 4s in his last three starts. Loves Riviera (T4s last two years) and is going to break through sooner than later.
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Brian
Wacker
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Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell
Jimmy Walker, Bubba Watson
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Bubba
Watson
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Hogan's Alley sets up nicely for the games of McDowell and Donald. Walker is a great fit there, too. He's been a West Coast stud and finished fourth at Riviera each of the last two years. Likewise, Watson has a good track record there with three top 20s and is off to a good start this season.
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