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Fantasy Golf League Update: Shanks Leading By a Nose
Tuesday March 31, 2009 | 12:51:26 419 words, 28483 views
Some people might think that Tiger Woods curling in another winning putt on the 72nd hole at Bay Hill is exciting. And it is, to an extent. But it’s not nearly as exciting as your boy Shanks here occupying first place in a fantasy league. Woo hoo!!!! The lead is a minute $400K in earnings over second place and $1 million over third. Being in a fantasy league for any amount is something most real fans of golf would enjoy. It definitely adds a little spice to your viewing experience when you’ve got something riding on the outcome of every shot. I was less than thrilled when the cameras showed my number one pick Hunter Mahan FIVE-putting on 16 for triple bogey to throw away over $100,000 in earnings. Later, I was alternately annoyed and enthralled when Pat Perez hit his second shot on 18 into the rocks then nearly made par. Yes, I lost serious cheese with that final hole bogey but loved the effort. Two shots back going into the last, Perez was trying to knock it stone dead for birdie just in case Woods and Sean O’Hair both bogeyed it behind him. That’s the attitude I want all my team to have. We’re a third of the way into the season and I’ve been on top for about a month. My team has managed two PGA Tour wins so far: Perez at the Hope and Dustin Johnson at Pebble. Matt Kuchar has been very solid with a top 10 and 2 other top 15 finishes but Henrik Stenson has not done much in his 2 PGA Tour starts this year. Considering his hot start in the European Tour events in the desert, look for him to pick up the pace very soon. But my secret weapon may well be my final round selection, rookie Jiyai Shin of the LPGA. She has a win and a second so far in 2009 and if you check the stats, you’ll find her presently atop the money list with nearly a half million dollars. That’s right, she’s ahead of Ochoa, Creamer, et al. It took HOFer Karrie Webb shooting the low round of the day in the final group on Sunday to deny her a second win in 2009. Not too bad considering she’s playing many of these courses for the very first time. Coming up immediately after Houston this weekend is the Masters for the first of 5 side payouts. I like the way my team is playing going in. 
Comments:
Comment from: Shanks [Visitor]
Good weekend for my team. Mahan and Stenson made nearly half a million dollars. More importantly, they are in good form heading into Augusta. Combined with Pat Perez and Dustin Johnson, I like my chances to have a great week there also.
04/06/09 @ 10:07
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Phew! Even being an honorary member is now nerve-wracking and had me flicking backwards & forwards on Shot Tracker. Aghast that I actually had to root for Mahan (but Paul Casey winning made up for my treachery).
Next week will be even more nail-biting than usual. Wish I had asked you for a tip on The Grand National.
04/06/09 @ 10:34
Comment from: Shanks [Visitor]
Perhaps your honorary membership is bringing enough luck to pull us through. Now in first by approx $850K and 4 more teams are within $1.2 million. Since there is a side pot for the Masters, this week is doubly important. Can't wait to see how it turns out.
04/07/09 @ 22:17
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Not shown live over here until 9.00 p.m. (Now only 5.45) Think I have totally lost my marbles as score sheet shows PP as having aced the 1st. Please put me right!
04/09/09 @ 12:45
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Aaaaaarrrgggghhhhh!
04/09/09 @ 13:00
Comment from: Shanks [Visitor]
Hopefully, you've been put straight by now. Perez not doing anything but Hunter Mahan is in second place. Nine birdies! Stenson still ok at 1 under and Dustin Johnson had a wild ride with 6 birdies offset by 2 bogeys and 2 doubles. Side note: In November I made a $20 wager on Mahan at 50-1 and $20 on Ogilvy at 40-1.
04/09/09 @ 21:46
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Unfortunately for you I also put my money on Ogilvy (at 25:1) - so that's down the chute.
Fortunately for us both, I don't have real money on (y)our Fantasy League, so we'll be OK.
04/10/09 @ 05:53
Comment from: Shanks [Visitor]
Don't give up on Ogilvy just yet. There's only ten players ahead of him. One solid round on moving day and he's right in the hunt, as are fantasy members Mahan, Stenson and Johnson. The bet on Garcia is looking great too, him being in 6th.
04/10/09 @ 21:42
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Ogilvy's play is not the problem - it's my betting money that's the jinx!
I go along with Kiel - let's get some Chad & Kenny landmines in there tomorrow.
04/11/09 @ 18:09
Comment from: Shanks [Visitor]
Well, I suppose we could call that Black Saturday. Only Mahan has the slimmest of chances and that would require a monster Sunday and help from the top. But realistically, I'm just hoping for solid under par rounds to maximize the fantasy income.
04/11/09 @ 23:00
Comment from: Betty [Visitor]
· http://desktopmemory.info
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Betty http://desktopmemory.info
04/13/09 @ 03:50
Comment from: Shanks [Visitor]
Welcome aboard, Betty! Glad to have you join in.
04/13/09 @ 08:20
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
The time difference had me whacked, so I didn't stay up to see the finish. Hope Mahan made us a few dollars though.
PS - "Betty" has more aliases than TW has wins.
04/13/09 @ 09:05
Comment from: Shanks [Visitor]
Right. "Betty" slipped by me. Still a little groggy this morning.
Mahan made nice coin but not enough to keep the team in first place (by $435K). Needed either Perry or Campbell to win. The new first place team has Cabrera, 2/4 of Woods, 1/3 of Mickelson, Westwood and Casey. Good news is that we still lead everybody else by at least $1 million.
04/13/09 @ 09:27
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Ooops - didn't realise significance of Perry/Campbell - I went for Cabrera out of the 3. Ditto for Paul Casey (sorry about last week).
That's one heck of a team we are up against, but I award them nul points for originality/risk-taking, so I shan't be jumping ship (yet).
04/13/09 @ 14:44
Comment from: Shanks [Visitor]
Casey is really the reason they are ahead of me. He's made over $2 million already on the PGA Tour after stinking it up last year. They got him with a final round pick (I was going to take him or Shin at my spot if available) and so far he is the best single pick in the whole draft. It happens nearly every year. In 2008 it was Kenny Perry who won over $4 million as a 6th round selection. And it also happens that one or more of the guys who are split into fractions has a bad year. Right now Vijay Singh holds that dubious distinction with about $260K so far, DIVIDED by 3 to $87K.
04/13/09 @ 14:55
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
OK, I think I'm getting the hang of it now.
A propos nothing whatsoever, what about Sandy Lyle's performance?
04/13/09 @ 15:57
Comment from: Shanks [Visitor]
Nothing short of stunning, considering his game for the past 15 years or so. I hope he enjoyed looking like the old Sandy. I know i did.
04/13/09 @ 16:02
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Stensooonnn! Stensooonn!
(Think we were in a minority on this one). Didn't dare post earlier in case I jinxed it - watching Johnson, Mahan & Perez go down the chute - had to stay up waaay past my bedtime (early tee-time this am) to make sure of win. How are we doing, Dear Leader?
05/11/09 @ 10:13
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Good job bringing home the win, partner. That wins us a side pot of nearly double the entry fee (one payout each for the 4 majors + the Players).
In addition to Stenson making $1.71 million, Kuchar snuck up into T14th with a final round 68 to grab $147K. Mahan, Johnson & Perez netted another $55K. And Shin came from the bottom of the field with a Sunday 66 to grab $23K. So, we are back in first place by $800K over second place and $1.7 million over third, a solid position for the season-long race.
05/11/09 @ 10:41
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Yessir!
Could only follow on-line until live coverage here at 8.00 pm. Had Kuchar at something like -3/23 at that point and knew he would make top 25. Too tired at midnight to go back on-line to full leaderboard or LPGA having done my duty re Henrik, so thrilled to regain first place. Knew I was on shaky ground to retain team membership(having committed faux pas re Casey/Cabrera) unless Stenson came up with the goods, so one glass too many perfectly justified. Husband says he saw no good reason for me to wake him with victory, however. Could have waited 'til morning he said. Not a team player/gambler then. Just shook his head sadly having read this over my shoulder. Go Team Shanks!
05/11/09 @ 17:10
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Forgiven for Casey/Cabrera, but possibly still on probation. Husband gets a pass as he hasn't bought in .... yet.
05/12/09 @ 11:42
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Hummphhh!
05/12/09 @ 18:00
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Except for wretched break for Pat Perez, not bad news this long w/e?
Dustin nearly made it, Mahan & Kuchar added some booty, and Kuchar qualified for The Open. I'm assuming we are still in first place of course? I was allowed to root for Casey with a clear conscience, my lovely Robert Rock is having a good year (didn't know he had written blogs for this site) and Button won the Monaco Grand Prix. To Do" list has grown somewhat however.
05/26/09 @ 14:30
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
We're still in first and have increased our lead to $1.2 million dollars. Mahan needs to change gears now, to help cover Perez's unplanned outage which is estimated to be 8 weeks.
I was elated to see Casey win on the European Tour. Better he spends his bullets there than over here since he's on the 2nd place team in the fantasy league.
05/26/09 @ 14:39
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Felt a few bullets whizz past my ears last week!
Another solid w/e I think. One point I would like clarified, please. If it is not compulsory to have a pick from the LPGA, what was your logic in doing so with the earnings from that tour so far beneath the PGA?
06/08/09 @ 10:36
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Still in first by $909,000 and gained ground on nearly everyone else.
As far as drafting an LPGA member, it's a matter of individual earnings. When it gets to the 6th round of the draft, the pickings are mighty slim. There are 23 teams which makes for 138 total picks. Last year Shin made $1.7 million in just 9 events as a non-member. Notwithstanding the $1 million from the tour championship, she still figured to make well over $1 million just from playing a full schedule - assuming similar performance. Her current earnings of $593,000 would have her 82nd on the PGA Tour money list or 8th on the Champions Tour money list. More importantly, she has made more money so far this year than about half of the 138 picks, which is pretty good for a last round pick! It would not surprise me if she improves her performance over the second half of the year. She's seeing many of the courses she's played so far for the first time.
06/08/09 @ 11:25
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Impressive tactics.
I'm waiting to find out if Setanta goes into administration over the next couple of days - it's the only channel showing US (non-major) tournaments over here. May be reduced to following Henrik & Jiyai on-line only this w/e.
06/10/09 @ 11:57
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Matt Kuchar withdrew from this week's tournament after being medallist in his sectional qualifier for the US Open on Monday. I suspect he entered in case he did not make the field. He has been playing very well of late, finishing 5th at Memorial and also being medallist at the Open Championship qualifier 2 weeks ago. What a darkhorse for the US Open! He's rolling the ball extremely well right now which no doubt explains why he's currently 3rd on Tour in the scrambling stats.
06/10/09 @ 12:25
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Yes, I saw his w/d along with one of the biggest lists I've seen for a while. Think he can be forgiven as he must be thrilled to make the majors. Worth an each-way bet for the US Open at least.
06/10/09 @ 12:42
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
I would imagine the odds to be quite attractive.
06/10/09 @ 12:46
Comment from: wendyuk [Visitor]
Didn't get a lot done this w/e between Wimbledon & two golf tournaments to follow. Mahan was incredible but I had that sinking feeling that TW would snatch it. Has he knocked us off first spot?
07/06/09 @ 06:47
Comment from: Shanks [Visitor]
No, we actually picked up ground on the second place team beacuse they have only 2/4 of Tiger Woods which equates to $540K. Mahan made $648K and Shin another $17K. We are ahead by approx $1.8 million over them and $3 million over the third place team.
07/06/09 @ 07:35
Comment from: wendyuk [Visitor]
Wheee! That was exciting, wasn't it?
Are we still hanging in there, Shanks?
08/17/09 @ 09:36
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Very tight race but we're still in first by about $130,000. We have a $3 million lead on 3rd place. Our opponents have half of Tiger so, needless to say, I was pulling HARD for Yang.
They also have Westwood (done in the US), Casey (injured?), 1/3 of Mickelson (putting problems) and Cabrera (streaky). None of them will play after the FedEx Cup events are over, but some of our guys will play a couple times. And Shin has potentially 10 more LPGA events left. So I like our chances if we can stay close over the next month.
08/17/09 @ 09:47
Comment from: wendyuk [Visitor]
We're definitely "in there with a shout", but an ice-cold & spitting-furious Big Cat is a fearsome obstacle. Sure makes all the forthcoming tourneys more interesting though.
Bit of a heartbreak for me with Stewart, Luke & Padraig on a personal level, but our Fantasy League keeps me going.
08/17/09 @ 16:12
Comment from: wendyuk [Visitor]
Sorry Shanks - I just can't do the math as Stenson, Casey & Westwood earnings difficult to separate for PGA. Are we hanging on by our fingertips (Shin's a little darling, isn't she & best result yet for Matt, I believe?) Come on Dustin!!
09/15/09 @ 13:54
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
We are leading by a slim $121,000. Our secret weapon Shin is leading the LPGA in just about everything. That was some comeback last week, finishing the round birdie, par, birdie and then birdies both playoff holes 2 hours later. Was exciting to watch, figuring she might keep us in the lead. Hoping for her to add another top finish this week to add to the cushion while the PGA Tour is idle.
Everybody on the team chasing us will finish their season next week, although Casey might play once more near his US home in the desert, if healthy by then. We'll have Shin playing about 5 or 6 more times and some of our team will play a couple of the Fall Series - especially Dustin Johnson defending his title the week following the Tour Championship. Perez and Kuchar will likely play a little to try to elevate their standing on the money list to top 30 and qualify for the majors. My big concern is Cabrera. If he were to finish first or second on top of half of whatever large sum Tiger will make, that would be hard to overcome. Their 1/3 of Mickelson pick probably isn't much of a concern. Westwood is finished over here for 2009. The third place team is $2.2 million behind, so it would take a miracle finish for them to catch up to us. Regardless, it will be an interesting view.
09/15/09 @ 14:21
Comment from: wendyuk [Visitor]
Drat, but still a good third place for Shin and $107K to add to the kitty. I get the point about the Woods/Cabrera combination - yikes, but bring it on.
Everyone else will have "switched off" after The Tour, but we'll have everything to play for after it. What a finish it's going to be! Trying not to think ahead for next year (Mc.....)? PS Any thoughts/possible blog on Q-school entrants - some interesting names there; some totally unknowns to me, but perhaps not to you?
09/21/09 @ 14:05
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Lead is up to $228K so that will partially, at least, offset Tiger's earnings this week. Just need Johnson or Mahan to match or exceed Cabrera this week and we'll be in great shape heading into the Fall Series.
I've got my sights set on Mc for next year. Assuming he doesn't join the PGA Tour I should be able to get him. He's on the non-member list right now and those players tend to go later because of their limited starts. I believe next year will be a monster year for the lad. A couple other Euros that did well in majors have my attention for later rounds too. Too early to think about final stage of Q-School but I suspect young Rickie Fowler will be in it. Don't know which guys will get medical extensions but a few like Aaron Oberholser and Brett Wetterich might be in as well. I will be watching!
09/21/09 @ 14:28
Comment from: wendyuk [Visitor]
Aaaaaaaarrrrghhhhh!
Poor Shin - hope she'll be OK for next tourney. Still, if Ogilvy can recover from +8, fingers crossed for Mahan & Johnson tomorrow. Followed AC on ShotTracker for last two holes and ashamed to admit I misdirected him on both. That will give me at least two more bogeys in my own round come Monday morning. Did you see anything of the Vivendi? Mc rules, OK.
09/26/09 @ 14:28
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Bad weekend, now $544K behind. Wouldn't you know that Mickelson would re-invent the wheel? That 1/3 of Mickelson turned into $450K. Perry not winning cost us over $300K.
We have Johnson & Kuchar going this week at Turning Stone. Would be terrific timing for one of them to finish in top 3. Shin not entered this week in Alabama, and next LPGA event not for another month.
09/28/09 @ 09:30
Comment from: wendyuk [Visitor]
What a nice Monday morning!
10/05/09 @ 09:58
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Koooooooch!!!
10/05/09 @ 10:08
Comment from: wendyuk [Visitor]
Is it too early to celebrate?!
10/19/09 @ 06:29
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Don't pop the cork in the champagne bottle just yet. While we have a lead of $759,365 as of now, we will have to survive the WGC event in China where the second place team will have full representation. With a $7 million purse, first prize there will be around $1.2 million.
10/19/09 @ 08:00
Comment from: wendyuk [Visitor]
Nooooooooo! I was working on the assumption that "everybody in the team chasing us will have finished their season next week" (9/15). How could you get a girl's hopes up like that?! And I was so looking forward to the hair of the dog after celebrating Button's F1 and Westwood's (allowable - European) wins last night. You had better bring it home or there'll be trouble :-(
10/19/09 @ 09:48
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
I didn't realize this event would count until I looked closely at the schedule. It's not readily evident as they show it in a special event category. The good news is that we will have 4 players in China too - Stenson, Johnson, Kuchar and Perez. And Perez is playing this week in Arizona. Should we drop slightly behind, we have our insurance policy - Jiyai Shin - with 4 more LPGA events to play. I like our chances very much.
10/19/09 @ 09:59
Comment from: wendyuk [Visitor]
I had seen Perez entry in Arizona & last 4 tournaments LPGA, but wasn't sure if they all counted or even if Shin had entered them all (assume at least 2 as defending champ). Checked qualifications for WGC, but obviously no actual confirmation of participants at this stage. I shall remain quietly confident in the meantime.
10/21/09 @ 11:37
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Perez has a post on his website that he is playing in China. Kuchar is the only one in doubt and he is high on the list to fill the field to it's full 78 players. I tried to add it all up but admittedly am not 100% sure.
10/21/09 @ 11:48 Leave a comment: |
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