The Mulligan: The Arnold Palmer

This week the Tour is headed to the Arnold Palmer Invitational which is played on beautiful Bay Hill. It is back to playing at a Par 72 this year (not a Par 70 as it was last year) and, naturally, it packs some extra distance for those two strokes. I have some common names for you this week as well as an EXTRA SPECIAL sleeper pick based on nothing other than my gut feeling.

Here is what I said last week about Jim Furyk: "I didn't pick Jim Furyk for this event because I picked him last year and he let us down. This is his type of course, so I would not be surprised to see him play well this week. However, I am not making him one of my picks because he has let me down virtually every time I have picked him. So I am sort of giving you a cocktail made up of 2 parts support and 1 part skepticism with Furyk." He won last week, so I don't want to jinx anything by picking him, but I think he will play well again.

Can you tell me who is number one this season in both earnings and FedEx Cup points? Lucky for you, you don't have to. That is my job. It is the new big force on Tour, Steve Stricker. I am taking Stricker this week because he has picked up in 2010 right where he left off in 2009. I honestly don't think it matters what course he is playing right now. I am picking Stricker until he shows some sign of slowing down.

I also look for Nick Watney to have a good week at Bay Hill. He finished tied for 4th here last season and he is playing well right now. He is coming off a 4th place finish last week where is putter was on fire. Those are two reasons to pick Nick.

Since I didn't give you faithful Mulligan readers a sleeper pick last week, I am going to give you an extra special sleeper pick this week. Charles Schwartzel has two non-PGA victories this season and he finished 2nd at the WGC-CA Championship this year. I think Bay Hill shapes up nicely for the 25 year old and the confidence of early success in 2010 is the icing on the cake.

The Mulligan: Fantasy Golf Picks for the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill

The Goose is back! Retief Goosen found his game last week and it is good timing with the Masters right around the corner. I don’t know about you, but I am starting to get excited about seeing the best of the best fight it out on Augusta for the coveted Green Jacket. Goosen won last week in Tampa and he looked very sharp. This makes him a viable fantasy golf pick this week as well, as the Tour heads to Bay Hill in sunny Orlando, Florida for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. This is a par 70 course that plays 7240 yards so the big hitters should have a good week.

I have some good fantasy golf picks for you this week. I have been waiting for this tournament to pick a guy I really like in Matt Goggin. Matt was my upset special in the Accenture Match Play Championship where he upset Kenny Perry (a 14 seed over a 3). I recommend starting him in fantasy golf this week for the same reason I picked him over Perry. He absolutely kills the ball and this long course fits his game. Don’t let his past performances here at Bay Hill fool you. Despite finishing 64th and being cut in his previous two trips to Bay Hill, Goggin should play well this week. He will stripe the ball out into the fairways and if his putter is on, he will contend for the cup.

My weekly fantasy golf sleeper pick is Chad Campbell. This guy has always been right on the cusp of breaking through and becoming a top-tier player. He has never quite gotten over the hump of mediocrity. He flirts with success, and right when we think he is going to break through, he falls off. Consistency has always been a problem for Campbell with one exception: Bay Hill. The past five years Campbell has finished in the top 25 all 5 times including a win in 2004.