The 2009 Shell Houston Open Six Pack

Pictured is last year's winner of the Shell Houston Open, Johnson Wagner.

I wouldn't bank on a repeat.

Nothing against Mr. Wagner, I just never pick guys to repeat as defending champs in golf.

Unless they are named after a predatory jungle beast who last name happens to be the surroundings in which that predator lies.

I'll let you figure that one out on your own.

How about last week, huh?

Was I the only one in the world that KNEW that putt was going in, even before he set foot on the green.

Finally a man who can make predictability exciting. Gotta love it.

Okay, I can't sleep, but need to get some shut eye, so let's make this short and sweet this week.

Here are my fantasy picks for the Yahoo league:

GROUP A
Geoff Ogilvy
Ernie Els

GROUP B
Steve Stricker
Rory McIlroy
Charley Hoffman
Hunter Mahan

GROUP C
Luke Donald
CH3

Let's get on to the six-pack, shall we?

No. 1 Steve Stricker

I absolutely love Steve Stricker this week.

He is such a great player, and he seems to go by so quietly unnoticed at times.

This weekend he will definitely be noticed.

Currently Steve's game is on an upswing and he has played wonderful golf thus far in 2009.

Steve has six cuts in seven attempts. ALL of those cuts made were top 25 finishes or better. Of those top 25s, three are in the top 10.

I love Stricker to make a run in Houston this week at 20:1 odds

No. 2 Justin Leonard

When you need to clean up some cash in the golf gambling world, use what I use, The Justbuster 2009!

Leonard has a very good history here, and typically makes the cut.

He also has three top-ten finishes this year so far.

Leonard's game is getting better since he missed two consecutive cuts five weeks ago.

At 40:1, "Just" say, "YES" to Leonard

No. 3 Hunter Mahan

Mahan has been okay this year. What he is missing are some of those LOOOOOWWWW sixty rounds that he is very capable of shooting.

I think Mahan gets his 2009 rolling this week with a win in Houston.

His game is trending up right now, which is a great sign. If he shoots a round or two under 65 (like I know he can), he will win this week. Mahan has not missed the cut yet this year and has had success here in Houston in the past.

Mahan knows he needs a good finish this week so he can play next week in Augusta at The Masters. He is currently on the outside, looking in as he is ranked 53rd in the world right now. He needs to win this week, or somehow needs to move up three slots to get into The Masters.

Good luck, Hunter! You're one of my favorite guys on tour, and at 40:1, a win this week will make you my absolute favorite on tour—for at least one week!

No. 4 Bob Estes

This man was supposed to be my long-shot super sleeper of the week, except Vegas is also on to him.

I thought for sure this grizzled, wily veteran would have been at least 80:1 to 100:1 odds.

I thought wrong.

Estes has always played above and beyond here in Houston. Perhaps it's because this weeks tour stop is in his home state of Texas this week. Bob lives in Graham, just outside of the Dallas Ft. Worth area.

Estes has played some pretty good golf this year so far.

Watch out for Bob on the leader board this weekend.

Bob should be a better value than 50:1 odds, but I'll take it.

No. 5 Davis Love III

He's no Chi Chi Rodriguez, but he is a heck of a golfer, who is having a great comeback run so far in 2009.

He has to be pretty perturbed with his missed cut last week, as he now sits at 51 in the OWGR. That's exactly one spot out of qualifying for The Masters.

I expect DL3 to come out "guns-a-blazin' This weekend, he should be in the top 10—and if he wins, its a 60:1 pay day.

No. 6 David Toms

David Toms definitely wants to be in Augusta next week. He really needs to step it up big time this weekend if he wants to make it there.

Toms back is against the wall, and now is the time for this proven veteran to take the reigns and lead himself to Augusta with a win.

I like David's chances this week, and I think he shows up in Houston ready to win.

At 60:1, I like this guy, and the complimentary side of value that comes with him.

Good luck this weekend!