The 2011 Hyundai Tournament of Champions 6-Pack

Welcome back, ladies and gentleman, to the initial tournament of the 2011 PGA Tour season. 

This year's field is interesting to say the least.  It should come as absolutely no surprise that Geoff Ogilvy is the clear favorite to win at 7:1 odds.  Right behind him is the unbelievably impressive Ernie Els who really had a great bounce-back year in 2010, earning just over $4.5 million.

There are a couple of jokers in this year's field that, in my opinion, you should avoid wagering on and I would also refrain from entering them in any fantasy lineups as well.  It's truly miraculous that these guys won last year.

Bill Lunde: Won the Turning Stone Championship after missing 16 out of 28 cuts.  He had four other top-25 finishes.  His highest statistic on tour was 26th in total eagles on the year with nine.

Rocco Mediate: Somehow Rocco won the Frys.com Open last year. His second best finish was a tie for 15th at the John Deere Classic. Aside from that he missed 15 out of 25 possible cuts.

Derek Lamely: Lamely won the Puerto Rico Open, yet he failed to crack the top-25 more than three total times.  He missed well over half his cuts last year.

Let's look at this week's Yahoo Fantasy lineup:

GROUP A

Start  Matt Kuchar             Sit  Dustin Johnson

GROUP B

Start  Steve Stricker           Sit  Stuart Appleby

         Justin Rose                     Hunter Mahan

GROUP C

Start  Zach Johnson           Sit  Adam Scott

Also, if you want to get into a really great fantasy golf pool with awesome prizes, please see my friends over at www.protourfantasygolf.com.

Since I can't figure out how to turn this INDENT feature off, let's move on to the first six pack of the year.

No. 1: Francesco Molinari

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 27: Francesco Molinari of Italy lines up a putt on the 17th hole during the third round of the Dubai World Championship on the Earth Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 27, 2010 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

I still can't understand fully why some of these European players do not play more in the PGA Tour.  They could be making some serious cabbage here.  A perfect example of such a player is Francesco Molinari.

This kid has played all over the world and done so in rather fitting fashion.  He won last years WGC HSBC Champions event and had 10 other top-10 finishes on top of that.

In the first event of the season, he is my favorite pick of all the golfers that are 20:1 odds or higher to wager on.  Molinari is actually exactly 20:1 to win it all.  I really think he will contend this week.

No. 2: Ian Poulter

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 27: Ian Poulter of England during the third round of the Dubai World Championship on the Earth Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 27, 2010 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Ian finally got his first win on the PGA Tour last year.  I think this is going to help bolster his confidence moving into 2011.  Expectations were high after the early win last year and most people will tell you that Poulter underperformed.  If you call earning $2 million on the PGA Tour under-performing, you may want to go get your head examined.

Like him or not, you have to realize this guy is the real deal.  You know he wants to silence the haters.

Poulter made 12 out of 15 cuts last year and five top-25 finishes.  He wears pink pants.  He will contend this week.

At 20:1 throw a few bucks on Ian Poulter.

No. 3: Anthony Kim

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

PARAMUS, NJ - AUGUST 26: Anthony Kim watches his tee shot on the 11th hole during the first round of The Barclays at the Ridgewood Country Club on August 26, 2010 in Paramus, New Jersey. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

Watch out for this guy this year.  Out of all the players on the tour poised for a bounce back year I think besides Tiger Woods, Anthony Kim is near the top of the list.

Hopefully this offseason he did the work he needed to do to come out firing.

Not long after he won the Shell Houston Open, he placed third in the Masters, and then went out with a disappointing thumb injury that HAD to be repaired.  The funny thing is that he was playing great even with a busted up thumb.  After the surgery in May he struggled mightily for the rest of the year.

This guy has the spirit and determination to make waves this year.

Keep in mind this kid hauled in just over $4.6 million in 2008.

At 28:1 I think you are getting excellent value with Anthony Kim.

No. 4: Zach Johnson

Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

NEWPORT, WALES - OCTOBER 02: Zach Johnson of the USA celebrates winning his match on the 18th green during the rescheduled Afternoon Foursome Matches during the 2010 Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor Resort on October 2, 2010 in Newport, Wales. (Photo by Ro

When you think of talent, Zach Johnson has to enter your mind.

Z.J. is going to be good for at least $3 million this year.  That first million plus, could very well happen in Hawaii, and why not Kapalua?  Although his reputation bodes better for the Sony Open, I have a feeling that Zach may surprise a week early this year.

When I saw him at 28:1 odds, I pulled the trigger immediately.

No. 5: Jason Day

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

KAPALUA, HI - JANUARY 04: Jason Day of Australia hits a shot during a practice round prior to the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at the Plantation course on January 4, 2011 in Kapalua, Hawaii. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Jason Day is one of my favorite young guns on the PGA Tour.

His breakout year finally occurred last year where he won once at the HP Byron Nelson Classic.  He nearly won again at the Deutsche Bank Championship when he was runner up with two others to the smoking hot Charley Hoffman who shot 62 on Sunday to run away with the tournament by five strokes.

I really like Aussies on tour, and I think that Kapalua fits Day's game well.

At 33:1, he represents true value to pad your sports book account quickly in 2011.

No. 6: Justin Rose

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ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 23: Justin Rose of England hit his tee shot on the fifth hole during the first round of THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola at East Lake Golf Club on September 23, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Ima

Yes Rose won twice on tour last year.

Yes, Justin earned just over $3.6 million.

Yes, he is ranked 30th in the world

BUT, did you know that he still missed the cut 27 percent of the time?

Rose is a world class player that had some true skills.

You need to consider him strongly this week, especially if you are wagering.  Justin Rose offers some of the best value out there at 33:1 odds.