Last year’s champion Jason Dufner makes a solid fantasy golf pick for this year’s HP Byron Nelson Classic. Here he holds the trophy on the 18th green after winning the HP Byron Nelson Classic after the final round at the TPC Four Seasons Resort – Las Colinas. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

After a thrilling PLAYERS Championship, many of the big names in golf get a couple weeks off as the PGA Tour heads to Texas for a couple weeks before the Memorial which is the next top-level field on the slate. For the next couple weeks, you’ll have to be extra savvy with your fantasy golf picks without the fallback of picking stars.

Last week, I didn’t pick the biggest star in the field and it came back to bite me as Tiger got the win after I went with a disappointing Phil and a choking Sergio instead in my A-list picks. There were five in our 20-member group that made the Tiger pick, and not surprising one of them won as HOME TEAM put up 162 to beat the rest of the group. MT Cup still remains atop the Spring Standings while Eagles Nest is in the lead for the full season.

I’m hoping to get my entry turned back around after a rough week at TPC Sawgrass. There are some nice fantasy options as the tour heads to Dallas though and go from one TPC course to another as they head to TPC Four Seasons. It’s a tough track that comes in at par-70 and is loaded with hazards that are tough to escape. However, the main challenge is the wind which is expected to be a major factor again this week.  Here are the picks I like to excel this week in Big D.

May 20, 2012; Irving, TX, USA; Jason Dufner lines up his putt on the eighteenth green during the final round of the HP Byron Nelson Classic at the TPC Four Seasons Resort – Las Colinas. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

A-List

Jason Dufner- Even though he’s been struggling lately, the defending champ is a solid pick from a shallow A-List. Duff also finished t8 two years ago at this event and will be looking to bounce back after a final-round 80 made him tumble down the leaderboard last week.

Charles Howell III- The second A-list is one of the trickiest on the board this week. CH3 is a safer option than some of the other since he’s made the cut in six of his last eight tournaments. He has a pair of t10′s in his last five starts but also a pair of missed cuts. He’s made the cut at this event in his last three trips to Dallas highlighted by a t20 two years ago.

B-List

May 12, 2013; Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, USA; Marc Leishman tees off on the first hole during the final round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass – Stadium Course. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

Marc Leishman- Leishman has been in the top 10 in his last three events with a t4 at the Masters, a t9 at Harbour Town, and a t8 last week. The Aussie also has a great history at this event with three top 10′s in the last four years including a t3 last year.

Jimmy Walker- Walker has eight top-25 finishes and closed with a final round 67 at the TPC last week on his way to a t15. He’s still looking for his first career win t30,

Keegan Bradley- Bradley has been inconsistent so I’ll start him on my bench in case he struggled on his way to a third consecutive MC. He was playing well before the Masters with four straight top 10′s but has struggled since. He won here in 2011 and followed that with a t24 last year.

Ben Crane- Crane has a pair of top 10′s in his last four starts and has made four of five cuts after a rough start to the season. He’s coming off a t8 last week at TPC Sawgrass and has a top-10 here from 2011.

C-List

June 16, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; Jordan Spieth walks from the tee on the 3rd hole during the third round of the 112th U.S. Open golf tournament at The Olympic Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Jason Day-After winning here in 2010, Day finished 5th in 2011 and t9 in 2012. He is also coming in playing extremely well with four top 10′s this season and 14 straight cuts made.

Jordan Spieth-Spieth is from Dallas and has been impressive on Tour so far this year. He has a trio of top ten’s and has made six of eight cuts. Spieth mad his Tour debut here is 2010 and finished t16 and followed that with a t32 in 2011. Spieth is comfortable on the course and should be ready for a solid week.

The PGA Tour returns to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and TPC Sawgrass for the 2013 version of THE PLAYERS Championship. The famed island green on the 17th hole awaits an elite field including Graeme McDowell, pictured here at last year’s event.  Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

The PGA Tour heads from Quail Hollow and the Green Mile to TPC Sawgrass and the famous island green as an exceptional field tees it up in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The TPC Sawgrass is one of the most recognizable and well-known courses on tour, and THE PLAYERS is about as big as any non-major tournament every year. It should be another great week of golf so make sure to get your fantasy golf picks locked in and ready so you can cheer them on their way up the leaderboard.

Last week in our FantasyCPR group, my entry finally broke out of it’s early spring slump and got me my first win of the second segment. I finished two points ahead of Team Tiger and three ahead of Fivot’s Divot’s. Overall, MT Cup has the lead for the segment and Eagle’s Nest remains atop the season-long standings.

There are so many good options this week with a stacked field. I’m hoping for another good week this week with these picks:

May 12, 2012; Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, USA; Phil Mickelson acknowledges the crowd on the 17th hole during the third round of the PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

A-List

Phil Mickelson: Mickelson had a share of the 54-hole lead last week but finished third after a rough last round. He has a great history here making 11 straight cuts with a win in 2007 and six top-25′s.

Sergio Garcia: Garcia won this event in 2008 and is coming off a pair of top 20′s at the Masters and last week at Quail Hollow. Since then, he’s made the cut all four years and has a pair of top 25′s.

Other Options: Tiger Woods (obviously… I’m trying to save starts and he only has one top 10 here since he won in 2001), Graeme McDowell, Tim Clark

B-List

Dustin Johnson: DJ pulled out of last week’s event with a strained wrist but was reportedly able to work on his game over the weekend and should be ready to roll at TPC Sawgrass. He’s finished in the top 13 in each of his last three starts including a t4 at the Shell Houston open and a t13 at the Masters. Last year he didn’t play this event, but hasn’t missed the cut since his first trip here in 2008. Johnson’s a risk due to his injury, but I’m comfortable enough with my depth on the B-list to take that risk.

May 11, 2012; Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, USA; Luke Donald walks to the green of the ninth during the second round of the PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

Luke Donald: Donald has made the cut in seven of his last eight trips to Sawgrass and has three top-six finishes during that time. He’s coming off a t3 at the Heritage which was his second top-5 in his last three starts. He’s played six tournaments on the PGA Tour this season and been in the top 25 in six of them.

Matt Kuchar: Last year’s winner, Kuchar comes in off a t35 at the Heritage which broke his streak of three straight top 25′s. Kuch is as consistent as they come and is a solid start any time he tees it up. I’m starting him on my bench since I’m down to just five of his starts left, but I’ll insert him if he’s in contention headed into the weekend.

Nick Watney: Watney has been knocking on the door after sharing the lead going into the final round last week at Quail Hollow. He ended up finishing t10 after a final-round 76, but it did give him his third straight top-15. He’s made the cut in each of his last three trips to Sawgrass with a t4 two years ago.

Other Options: Webb Simpson, Justin Rose, Jim Furyk, K.J. Choi

C-List

May 10, 2012; Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, USA; Lee Westwood walks from the tee of the ninth during the first round of the PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

Lee Westwood: Westwood finished t4 last week for his third top-ten finish in a row. He has a nice history at TPC Sawgrass with three top-six finishes in his ten trips to the event. Westwood is looking for his first win on Tour this season.

Adam Scott: Scott won this event back in 2004 and has been back in the top 15 three times since. He’s in pretty good form since he’s coming off a win at a little tournament in Augusta known as the Masters. He hasn’t played since, but returns to a course he’s extremely comfortable at this week.

Other Options: Billy Horschel, Rickie Fowler