Fantasy Crystal Ball: WGC CA Championship

This week is the second of three WGC events played in the United States this season.  It's the first stroke play event of the three - the CA Championship - and it's played at the newly moniker-ed TPC Blue Monster at Doral. 

Phil Mickelson is the defending champion after holding off Nick Watney last year, including a right handed shot in the final round.  Mickelson, though, is not playing particularly well and complains of problems with his putter.  That is precisely what is required to win at Doral when the wind is minimal.  Having largely blown his self-proclaimed opportunity in Tiger's absence, I would be reluctant to pick Lefty this week.

Instead, I'm going to ride Steve Stricker on the A-list because of his strong putting.  And I'm going a little sentimental with having Ernie Els on the bench.  He has played solidly to start the year and no one else in the A group has been particularly consistent this year.

The B-list has a lot of depth to it in terms of talent, but not so much in terms of consistency.  The story of the '10 PGA Tour season is determining the right guy playing well for the right three week stretch.  Camilo Villegas is last week's winner and in week three of his hot stretch - and I don't mean the Spiderman pose.  Pick him.  This is a course that suits Retief Goosen well, too.

For giggles, I'm going to take Alvaro Quiros.  He is almost always a gamble.  I'll live dangerously with him and play safe by keeping Nick Watney around on the bench.

The C-list is very easy this week.  You'd be a complete idiot not to pick Ian Poulter.  And I like Paul Casey, too.

All of that advice aside, let me slip in a recommendation for Geoff Ogilvy, too.  The guy almost always plays well at Doral.  He's not especially hot right now because of inactivity, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him hoist the trophy provided that he is the WGC prince.