Brandt Snedeker took last year’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course. He makes a good fantasy golf pick again this week. Find all my picks below. Photo by Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The PGA Tour season heats up as it heads to picturesque Torrey Pines for the Farmers Insurance Open. Last year’s event was decided like last week’s in extra holes so we should be in for another exciting and dramatic tournament.

There’s definitely some extra strategy for fantasy golf players in the opening rounds in this two-course format. Before the cut, players will play one round each on Torrey Pines North and South course. After the cut, play will only be on the more difficult Torrey South. If at all possible, it’s time to use your bench effectively by choosing players on opposite sides of the draw so you can get both players active when on the North course. I’ll be setting up my roster to start all North Course players in round one and rotate to my bench players on the second day as they take on Torrey North.

Last week, I made some bad bench decisions in the final round costing myself some points, but was able to maintain my lead in the Fantasy CPR group (which you can join by clicking here). The win for the week went to MT Cup who made the right sit/start moves on his way to a 168.

Make sure to check the draw as you make your picks for this week. When the draw comes out, I’ll update my picks here and keep the higher player on each list. Here’s who I’m rolling with, pending the draw:

Sep 23, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Bubba Watson (USA) hits from the 9th tee during the final round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports

A-List

Bubba Watson: On any course where length is required, Bubba’s a good option. Here at Torrey Pines Watson’s a regular on the leaderboard. He won the event in 2011 and has three other top 15′s in this event including a t13 last season.  Bubba finished in the top five a Kapalua in his only event this season.

Brandt Snedeker: Last year’s champion went on to win the FedEx Cup and has started this year with a solo third and a t23 last weekend. He was consistent with a 67-68-67-67 last week and knows how to go low in a hurry when needed. I’m hoping he’s on the opposite side of the draw from Bubba, but if not I’ll stay with Bubba and replace Sneds. Check back tomorrow to be sure.

B-List

Aug. 26, 2012; Farmingdale, NY, USA; Nick Watney celebrates after sinking the final putt to win The Barclays at Bethpage State Park. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Nick Watney: Watney also has won this event in the past (2009) and the California-Native added a pair of t9′s in 2007 and 2010 and a t6 in 2011. He’s finished in the top 30 in five of his last six PGA events dating back to his win at The Barclays last season.

Dustin Johnson: DJ is always someone to have on your roster at Torrey and other long-range events. He won the opening event of this season and has a pair of top-20′s highlighted by a tied for third in the Farmers Insurance Open.

Keegan Bradley: Bradley hasn’t won here, but has a well-rounded game that has resulted in him becoming one of the best week-to-week options. He has a pair of top 25′s in his two previous visits here, and it’s always a plus to pick a New Englander if I can’t cheer for my Patriots any more in the playoffs.

Scott Stallings: Another New England native, Stallings was way out front of last week’s Humana before fading to a disappointing t4.  Since all of these four aren’t likely to end up on the opposite sides of the draw, he probably won’t be on my final team but don’t forget the “Kyle Stanley path” from last year. Stanley followed a crushing loss (in this tournament actually) with a big win the following week.

April 28, 2012; Avondale, LA, USA; John Rollins hits from the sand trap at hole one during the third round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

C-List

John Rollins: Rollins has a pair of top 20′s the last two weeks and finished solo third last year at this event. His track record here and good form make him a good sleeper pick.

Scott Piercy: Piercy started the season with a pair of top 15′s in the islands giving him four straight including last year’s Fall Series. He’s one of the most stable options in the C Pool at this point.

Those are my top options. I’ll update when tee times come out with any substitutions I make.

Torrey Pines makes the Famers Insurance Open worth watching just for the stunning Pacific views. If your fantasy golfers are in contention, it only gets better. (Photo-Condon/PGA TOUR)

The other key strategy here is to get the North course for all 8 of your roster choices. Normally I don’t make roster moves until the 3rd round, but in this one I’ll swap out all 4 starters after day 1. Torrey North is ranked as the 7th-easiest of 21 par 72s in non-majors last season and is a shot easier per round than the familiar Torrey South. My bench picks, as a result, are tentative based on draw since I’ll have my bench play the flip course of my starters and swap them all in round 2. The first 2 rounds are one on each course with the final 2 rounds with everyone that made the cut on the South course.

Congratulations to “One Man Wolfpack” who became our 3rd winner in the first 3 tournaments in our Fantasy CPR group (c’mon and join us). He took the win with 108 points led by Martin Laird, Chris Kirk, and Matt Kuchar. Last week, my guys finished out strong and I was able to get all 4 slots past the cut and finish with 104 points to move up into a tie for 3rd in our group which is now led by Winealot bo who grabbed the top spot by a single point from Boss of the Moss.

Here’s my current picks, which I’ll update if the draw affects my selections: UPDATE now posted here. (more…)