Monday, July 18, 2016

The Duel In The Sun?

I heard the golf was pretty awesome yesterday. Didn't get to enjoy it as I was spending quality time at DTW, ORD, CLT and GSP. Nobody picked Stenson. Nobody picked Phil. Sadly for 10 of you who picked Rory and Sergio they didn't shoot 1 shot better as we're rolling over the winner's pot of $150 to the PGA. That last shot at glory will pay $300 for the top pick. We will divvy up the funds after that even if there is a big tie at the top again.

In the Barracuda Championship four people (Blair, Lovelace, Marksamer and Scoopmire) picked Aaron Baddeley (Badds!) and will split the $80 that was in the winner's pot.

Not too much movement for a major week, very tight in the middle of the pack with just $1.5M separating 7th from 22nd. Here are the updated standings...
 
Russ Tigue - $11,532,705
Matt Saler - $9,715,613
Hunter Hughey - $9,095,029
Travis Brown - $8,811,044
Ryan Zuckerman - $8,166,648
Allen Freedman - $7,574,681
Drew Dunigan - $7,498,038
Tom Sullivan - $7,486,920
Chris Hood - $7,302,980
Drew Johns - $7,225,961
PLAYOFF CUT LINE
Jennifer Garrity - $7,002,825
Jason Swanson - $6,930,599
Cale Harbin - $6,865,499
Mike Blair - $6,734,139
Jamie Pimentel - $6,706,880
Stefen Lovelace - $6,555,265
Scott Stein - $6,428,685
Cabo-Wabo - $6,328,903
Sean Scoopmire - $6,301,715
Gray Kitchens - $6,291,662
Mark Eber - $6,114,964
Kyle Rubeling - $6,104,963
Bill Horton - $5,900,252
John Barnes - $5,831,924
Justin Marksamer - $5,664,176
Jeff Henry - $5,444,354
Eric Simmonds - $5,428,169
BJ Sweeney - $5,407,500
Nick Eber - $5,387,038
Matt Mead - $5,201,595
John Reilly - $5,190,551
Richard Rapkin - $5,049,882
John Doyle - $4,859,681
Rob Randall - $4,752,862
Stefan Manford - $4,720,691
Sue Hubbard - $4,449,418
Frank & Dean - $4,351,862
Chris Edwards - $3,973,106
Chad Crawford - $3,950,944
Tom Roberts - $3,263,390
Joe Eber - $3,189,755


Wednesday, June 22, 2016

U.S. Open Update

Did I miss some sort of rules snafu while I was in France? Good lord on Twitter you would have thought they were going to make Dustin play naked with only 3 clubs. I get it the USGA did screw it up. But the everything is the most important moment ever era is really starting to annoy me in sports. Look at the NBA Finals story lines... The Cavs Sucks, LeBron Sucks, Curry Sucks, The Warriors Suck, The Cavs Suck, The Warriors Suck, Curry Sucks, LeBron is the greatest of all time.

Glad DJ finally got the W, shocked it took that long with his talent and lack of brain. In my view there are only three other players in the past 20 years that are as physically talented -- Tiger, Phil and Bubba. There will be more to come. Shocking to hear he is still only 31. Ok, let's do the fun "Best Player w/o a Major poll" up above.

Hats off to Travis and Chris for trotting DJ back out in another major. You both moved into the top 10 and netted $170 for the W in a major and winner's pot. Russ Tigue goes over the $10M mark and holds onto the overall lead with a solid pick of Brendan Grace.

We have 12 tourneys to go to get into the top 10 -- 2 majors, a WGC event and the Olympics should provide plenty of chances to move up.


Russ Tigue - $10,453,309
Matt Saler - $9,193,179
Hunter Hughey - $8,445,747
Travis Brown - $8,405,630
Ryan Zuckerman - $7,906,802
Drew Dunigan - $7,086,913
Allen Freedman - $7,065,358
Chris Hood - $6,913,264
Cale Harbin - $6,356,487
Jason Swanson - $6,289,869
PLAYOFF CUT LINE    
Drew Johns - $6,275,053
Cabo-Wabo - $6,149,421
Jennifer Garrity - $6,134,706
Tom Sullivan - $5,993,214
Jamie Pimentel - $5,877,842
Kyle Rubeling - $5,849,717
Bill Horton - $5,727,836
Mike Blair - $5,557,715
Mark Eber - $5,354,679
Stefen Lovelace - $5,346,649
John Barnes - $5,300,986
Scott Stein - $5,246,962
Gray Kitchens - $5,243,131
Nick Eber - $4,998,557
Sean Scoopmire - $4,989,732
Eric Simmonds - $4,868,993
Richard Rapkin - $4,746,102
Matt Mead - $4,734,410
John Doyle - $4,573,145
Justin Marksamer - $4,421,697
Jeff Henry - $4,353,703
John Reilly - $4,218,458
BJ Sweeney - $4,187,567
Stefan Manford - $4,023,782
Frank & Dean - $3,877,708
Sue Hubbard - $3,725,122
Rob Randall - $3,710,570
Chris Edwards - $3,484,350
Chad Crawford - $3,262,088
Tom Roberts - $2,877,292
Joe Eber - $2,687,213

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

McGirt Wins!

Cool to see a "regular dude" like William McGirt get his first PGA TOUR win. Five years ago I met him at the famed 15 1/2 umbrella at the Travelers Championship. I told him I lived in Greenville (he lives just north) and he said, let's play golf sometime and handed me the card below. Never cashed it in but may try in a few months. Not a bandwagon rider, I've been rooting for him since meeting him that day. Contrast that to interactions with D-bags like Anthony Kim (Nick you remember) and a few others that I won't bother naming, its easy to root for guys like William.



Nobody picked McGirt this time but seven have so far this year. Updated standings...


Russ Tigue - $8,588,521
Matt Saler - $8,234,636
Hunter Hughey - $6,834,137
Ryan Zuckerman - $6,710,558
Jamie Pimentel - $5,766,953
Allen Freedman - $5,707,402
Jennifer Garrity - $5,608,451
Mike Blair - $5,512,765
Drew Dunigan - $5,475,303
Bill Horton - $5,201,581
PLAYOFF CUT LINE    
Jason Swanson - $5,093,625
Tom Sullivan - $5,034,671
Drew Johns - $4,917,097
Stefen Lovelace - $4,883,716
Gray Kitchens - $4,747,521
Cale Harbin - $4,744,877
Kyle Rubeling - $4,733,717
Richard Rapkin - $4,715,457
Nick Eber - $4,670,313
Eric Simmonds - $4,596,392
Travis Brown - $4,582,430
Cabo-Wabo - $4,537,811
Sean Scoopmire - $4,526,799
Matt Mead - $4,191,233
Mark Eber - $4,183,293
Jeff Henry - $4,117,443
John Barnes - $4,104,742
Justin Marksamer - $3,958,764
John Reilly - $3,657,914
BJ Sweeney - $3,644,390
Scott Stein - $3,635,352
Frank & Dean - $3,629,708
Stefan Manford - $3,528,172
Sue Hubbard - $3,215,164
Chris Edwards - $3,204,156
John Doyle - $2,961,535
Tom Roberts - $2,877,292
Chris Hood - $2,850,331
Joe Eber - $2,656,568
Rob Randall - $2,514,326
Chad Crawford - $2,146,088



Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Michigan Boy Makes Good

Jackson, Michigan native Brian Stuard netted his first PGA TOUR win at the rain soaked Zurich. Stuard becomes the first Michigander to win on tour since John Morse did it in the 1995 Hawaiian Open. Fun facts that I only care about. Another Yankee boy made good at the Web.com with Purdue grad Adam Schenk (yep, sounds like Shank!) finished T2 at the Web.com tournament over the weekend. Thanks for humoring me, these two things have literally never happened in my lifetime.

In the pool, nobody picked Stuard and anyone who picked Zurich ambassadors (Crane, Fowler, Rose) didn't fare too well. And the two who gambled with Day only made $200K -- not worth it!

Updated Standings...


Matt Saler - $8,210,486
Russ Tigue - $7,879,867
Hunter Hughey - $6,834,137
Allen Freedman - $5,637,160
Ryan Zuckerman - $5,565,916
Drew Dunigan - $5,409,683
Drew Johns - $4,858,867
Jennifer Garrity - $4,729,346
Mike Blair - $4,714,123
Cale Harbin - $4,488,227
PLAYOFF CUT LINE    
Kyle Rubeling - $4,330,150
Gray Kitchens - $4,282,265
Eric Simmonds - $4,207,799
Jamie Pimentel - $4,193,825
Stefen Lovelace - $4,129,817
Nick Eber - $4,067,063
Jason Swanson - $4,004,120
Cabo-Wabo - $3,867,907
Richard Rapkin - $3,852,091
Sean Scoopmire - $3,813,160
Travis Brown - $3,784,925
Tom Sullivan - $3,648,684
Justin Marksamer - $3,615,659
Jeff Henry - $3,597,506
Scott Stein - $3,535,594
Bill Horton - $3,482,392
John Barnes - $3,375,842
Frank & Dean - $3,065,127
Sue Hubbard - $2,934,261
John Reilly - $2,875,601
Chris Edwards - $2,794,257
Tom Roberts - $2,793,153
Mark Eber - $2,768,856
Chris Hood - $2,664,031
Stefan Manford - $2,656,194
Joe Eber - $2,378,676
John Doyle - $2,250,709
BJ Sweeney - $2,216,165
Matt Mead - $2,173,771
Rob Randall - $2,149,576
Chad Crawford - $1,604,556

Monday, April 25, 2016

Valero Feast of Famine Open

Wow! Charley with an EY finally closed the deal and 11 of you had him. Twelve more people had players who netted $100K+ while another twelve picked guys who missed the cut. The true definition of feast or famine. We have some movement in the standings this week.

Updated standings:

Matt Saler - $8,145,577
Russ Tigue - $7,851,838
Hunter Hughey - $6,806,108
Allen Freedman - $5,381,660
Ryan Zuckerman - $5,310,416
Drew Dunigan - $5,154,183
Drew Johns - $4,830,838
Mike Blair - $4,686,094
Jennifer Garrity - $4,664,437
Cale Harbin - $4,460,198
PLAYOFF CUT LINE    
Kyle Rubeling - $4,330,150
Gray Kitchens - $4,282,265
Eric Simmonds - $4,207,799
Jamie Pimentel - $4,128,916
Stefen Lovelace - $4,064,908
Nick Eber - $4,050,095
Jason Swanson - $4,004,120
Cabo-Wabo - $3,839,878
Richard Rapkin - $3,824,062
Sean Scoopmire - $3,785,131
Travis Brown - $3,720,016
Tom Sullivan - $3,620,655
Justin Marksamer - $3,615,659
Jeff Henry - $3,582,176
Scott Stein - $3,470,685
Bill Horton - $3,417,483
John Barnes - $3,347,813
Frank & Dean - $3,048,159
Sue Hubbard - $2,869,352
John Reilly - $2,847,572
Chris Edwards - $2,729,348
Mark Eber - $2,703,947
Tom Roberts - $2,639,153
Chris Hood - $2,636,002
Stefan Manford - $2,591,285
Joe Eber - $2,378,676
John Doyle - $2,235,379
Rob Randall - $2,149,576
BJ Sweeney - $2,013,165
Matt Mead - $1,918,271
Chad Crawford - $1,349,056

Monday, April 11, 2016

The Masters Update

Ho hum. The Masters tournament basically ended up being a non-factor for this pool. I'm sure on Friday night those who picked Rickie, Phil and even Bubba that they'd be in major trouble this weekend with Rory, Rose and Day lurking near the top of the leaderboard.

And who wasn't kicking themselves for not picking Spieth. In hindsight of course you could have had him SOLO! Well it's probably best nobody did because who saw that misery at 12 coming? Ouch, if you've ever played competitive golf at any level you have run into that moment where doubt creeps in and you just don't feel comfortable and there is nothing you can do about it. For most of us its the club championship or maybe a $10 nassau. For tour players maybe it comes when they're trying to get their first win. For the best of the best it eventually shows up on the biggest stage -- the majors. Spieth tried to hand off the U.S. Open last year but DJ said no you take it. This time Jordan served up the Green Jacket on a silver platter and Danny boy Willett stepped up and took it.

Other highlights for me were Frowny Kaufman's coming out party, gotta wonder if that final round will have a similar effect that it did on Snedecker or if he'll bounce back. Ty Webb played well taking home the silver medal and how about Bernhard Langer and Larry Mize? Wow, that just shows you how long you can compete in golf if you stay healthy and keep working. Speaking of Ty Webb aka Bryson DeChambeau, I'm considering a new rule but want your feedback (sort of) vote on this...

Ty Webb Amateur Rule - If you pick an amateur you will be credited with his would be earnings had he played as a pro.

Day's bogey on 18 backed him into that T10 which meant 19 people tied for the best pick - McIlroy and Rose also finished +1. I consulted the assistant commissioners and in lieu of giving everyone $8 whole dollars, we have decided to roll that $150 best major pick over to the U.S. Open. I was one of the 19 who picked Day and would absolutely rather have a shot at $300 than take the $8 now plus this pool is an administrative nightmare as I explained earlier this year I'd much rather only write out checks to five people at year end than 25.

Russ did lose his lead to Matt Saler but not by much. Updated standings...


Matt Saler - $7,017,718
Russ Tigue - $6,735,838
Hunter Hughey - $5,542,608
Ryan Zuckerman - $5,076,676
Drew Dunigan - $4,772,943
Mike Blair - $4,674,235
Jennifer Garrity - $4,516,937
Gray Kitchens - $4,270,406
Allen Freedman - $4,118,160
Kyle Rubeling - $4,096,410
PLAYOFF CUT LINE
Jamie Pimentel - $3,981,416
Nick Eber - $3,802,903
Justin Marksamer - $3,596,191
Cabo-Wabo - $3,589,303
Jeff Henry - $3,570,966
Drew Johns - $3,567,338
John Barnes - $3,200,313
Cale Harbin - $3,196,698
Scott Stein - $3,089,445
Frank & Dean - $3,016,988
Travis Brown - $2,967,076
Stefen Lovelace - $2,948,908
Eric Simmonds - $2,944,299
John Reilly - $2,847,572
Jason Swanson - $2,740,620
Mark Eber - $2,703,947
Sean Scoopmire - $2,657,272
Chris Edwards - $2,641,878
Tom Sullivan - $2,492,796
Tom Roberts - $2,388,578
Stefan Manford - $2,345,686
John Doyle - $2,235,379
Sue Hubbard - $2,199,752
Richard Rapkin - $2,188,862
Bill Horton - $2,153,983
Rob Randall - $2,149,576
Chris Hood - $2,097,334
BJ Sweeney - $2,001,306
Joe Eber - $1,997,436
Matt Mead - $1,918,271
Chad Crawford - $1,115,316

Monday, April 4, 2016

Shell Houston Update

Greetings everyone. A big thank you to Kyle who took over the pool for me the past few weeks. Happy to be back for Masters week. Did want to let you golfers know that you need to put Kukui' Ula on your course bucket list. It's a Tom Weiskopf design on Kauai. Beautiful course design but maybe move impressively it had to have the best conditioning of any course I've seen this side of Augusta National. Kapalua was also very cool but played extremely tough in 30+ sustained winds. Ok, enough about that.

Feast or famine at the Shell Houston Open. Mostly famine with the favorite Brooks Koepka missing the cut -- even Hunter missed for the first time in 14 events. The standings are below. Note a solo win this week would move almost everyone into the playoffs and seven of you into first.


Russ Tigue - $6,735,838
Matt Saler - $6,387,718
Hunter Hughey - $5,442,108
Ryan Zuckerman - $5,076,676
Drew Dunigan - $4,672,443
Jennifer Garrity - $4,442,937
Mike Blair - $4,214,235
Kyle Rubeling - $4,022,410
Gray Kitchens - $3,810,406
Nick Eber - $3,702,403
PLAYOFF CUT LINE    
Allen Freedman - $3,658,160
Jamie Pimentel - $3,521,416
Jeff Henry - $3,496,966
Cabo-Wabo - $3,488,803
Justin Marksamer - $3,460,191
Drew Johns - $3,107,338
Eric Simmonds - $2,944,299
Travis Brown - $2,893,076
Stefen Lovelace - $2,848,408
John Barnes - $2,740,313
Cale Harbin - $2,736,698
Chris Edwards - $2,641,878
Scott Stein - $2,629,445
Sean Scoopmire - $2,583,272
Frank & Dean - $2,556,988
Tom Sullivan - $2,418,796
Tom Roberts - $2,388,578
John Reilly - $2,387,572
Jason Swanson - $2,280,620
Stefan Manford - $2,245,186
Mark Eber - $2,243,947
Bill Horton - $2,153,983
John Doyle - $2,134,879
Sue Hubbard - $2,099,252
Richard Rapkin - $1,728,862
Rob Randall - $1,689,576
Chris Hood - $1,637,334
BJ Sweeney - $1,541,306
Joe Eber - $1,537,436
Matt Mead - $1,458,271
Chad Crawford - $1,115,316