Fantasy Crystal Ball: Bob Hope Classic
by Ryan Ballengee on Jan 19, 2010 9:32 PM EST
in Fantasy Golf
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PrintThe PGA Tour plays one of its most unique events this week in the California desert with the playing of the Bob Hope Classic. The event is a pro-am, which is not unique. But it's also 90 holes, which makes it the only PGA Tour event to run 90 holes.
We like Bubba this week, too! (This was from '09.) Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Pat Perez won this tournament last year to finally secure his first PGA Tour win. Good for him. It turned out to be a good year for the Perez brothers as Mike won Golf Channel's Big Break program. Perez was five clear of Steve Stricker, who finished tied for third after a disastrous final round. We were also introduced to Webb Simpson last year at this event, too.
Consider this event one of the weaker ones on Tour. Also consider that the scores can go very low here, lest we forget about David Duval's final round of 59 at the Hope. (Relive here, starting about :40 into the video.) Pick your team accordingly: find the best available and those most prone to go low with strong wedge play.
There is not a lot that stands out in the A-group. Maybe it's Twitter talking, but I like Bubba Watson this week. I also like Ryan Moore.
The C-group is probably the biggest group this week. I know I said earlier in the week that South African golf is down, but I suspect Tim Clark may prove me wrong. Incredibly, Sony Open winner Ryan Palmer is in the C-group and I almost always pick the man going for two in a row. I would consider Jeff Quinney if you like neither of those because of his track record in this tournament.
I'm going to take a gamble this week on Michael Sim in the B-group. Sim earned a Battlefield Promotion last year, but did so too late in the year to take advantage of it. It is a 50-50 gamble that he will have a good season given the experience of other promotees. I usually pick the defending champion, so Double P is on the bench. I'll also go with past winner Charley Hoffman and I'm sensing a Kevin Sutherland sighting this weekend.
So, here's my team for this week:
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No mention of the weather ? Look for guys who can play in rain and cold. I’d keep an eye on Mike Weir.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Mike Weir is not a bad bet. He’s almost never a bad bet!
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by Ryan Ballengee on Jan 20, 2010 12:01 AM EST up reply actions
Good to know!!
He’s off my squad. :-)
I’ve been waiting all day for the weekly review…this is a tough week to pick!
I write about golf at www.tees2greens.com, too.
What?
I completely respect that you have admitted to having the worst fantasy luck in the world…I’m just trying to avoid it! :-)
I write about golf at www.tees2greens.com, too.
Mike Weir, Mr. #37
Given the fact that Tiger Woods is AWOL that leaves 35 of the worlds top golfers absent from the Bob Hope this week. A larger group than played the season opening SBS. A big chunk of the Tour’s “Show Ponys” are playing in Abu Dhabi this week. No one would argue their right as “Independent Contractors” to play where they want and make money in the process. As Dianemarie pointed out on the other Hope article, maybe it’s time for the Hope to go away and then the AT&T and then what? Very seldom is contraction a good business strategy. Every other sport I can think of has expanded, except the LPGA which has been forced to contract. I don’t know why the U.S. Tour demonized appearance money. Maybe it should revisit that instead of worrying about grooves.
That’s Mike “Mr Green Jacket” Weir to you. (lol)
Name another sport that has pro-ams. You can’t. This isn’t a “business strategy” – it’s more like trimming dying branches from a healthy tree. The problem modern players have is that they don’t have to play these long days with celebrities nobody knows. We don’t have universally loved celebrities like we had back in the days of Hope and Crosby. Those tournaments were full of Hollywood stars. Today’s young stars would rather play gangstuh than golf. There are more niche stars than universally loved stars.
You don’t understand why appearance money is against the rules in the States ? Pretty simple – the best of the best have wanted to play here for decades. They didn’t have to pay to get the best. Paying players is more desperation than smart business. If, for some reason, the best of the best decide to go play somewhere else, and American businesses decide that they just HAVE to have a Tiger Woods type of name in the field to survive, then maybe it would be allowed – but don’t hold your breath on it. The US isn’t Australia.
You lost me on that last part – what do grooves and appearance money have to do with each other ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
The problem modern players have is that they don’t have to play these long days with celebrities nobody knows.
Did you mean the “do” have a problem?
And are we talking about the few events that have the 3 to 4 day Pro-Am events, or are you also including the Tuesday/Wed. Pro-Am days?
I write about golf at www.tees2greens.com, too.
Probably not the best way to put it – but the top guys make plenty of money – they don’t need the “hassle” of these Pro-Am events. 90 holes, dicey weather, not playing with another pro until the weekend….
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I agree...
that the 4 day Pro-Am events have probably outlived their draw to the players and the galleries. I guess our world has changed…have I mentioned I’m not really good with change?? :-)
Awhile ago there was an article on golf.com from “Anonymous Pro” regarding a new rule for Pro-Am days on the PGA tour…you can read it here: http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1929880,00.html
It irked me…so much so that I had to write about here: http://www.tees2greens.com/blogs/from_the_fringe/archive/2009/11/05/when-golf-is-a-job.aspx
I write about golf at www.tees2greens.com, too.
I’ve got a feeling that this might be the week that I go in the tank…I just can’t decide on my roster!! We still have a couple of hours to change up the picks before the first round starts and I’m still contemplating switching – I want to pick Bubba Watson, but I’m not sure this format with different courses suits him. Is Justin Leonard ready to break out this week? After seeing Ryan Palmer win last week, is there going to be another “sleeper” pick that should be considered instead of the best ranked players? Or do I just go with my heart and pick my favorite guys in the field? My brain hurts…
I write about golf at www.tees2greens.com, too.
Red.....
Just go look at my picks and you can eliminate 8 from your choices….lol….Speaking of sleepers….all my picks seem to be “sleeping”. Is sleep walking an addiction??? Oh, my, 90 holes…… makes me tired already.
Saints are no longer killing me!!!!!!!!
Dang It, Em!
We both picked the same B group players! We aren’t allowed to see each other’s picks until after the tournament starts. I’ve got to hope that Snedeker is going to start of 2010 with a bang! Verplank could be a really good sleeper pick!
I write about golf at www.tees2greens.com, too.
Verplank is old like me......
He may not even get loose till Friday…..which means he may still be “sleeping” on Thursday……..Uh Oh……
Saints are no longer killing me!!!!!!!!
This is a birdie fest tourney....
maybe Verplank wasn’t the best choice…he’s more steady like a turtle and will make cuts for you.
Baird – -4 after 3 holes…and where is he? In my backup list!!!!!!
Go Brandt! :-)
I write about golf at www.tees2greens.com, too.
Are
Red and Em in collusion on this thing…stay tuned to find out, ..I just hope my picks can find the course….STUB
You're FUNNY!!
I write about golf at www.tees2greens.com, too.
Michael Breed cut ins
I’m kind of liking these instruction breaks with Michael Breed. None of the silly toys he uses on his studio show. The segment on Boo Weekley about hitting the hybrid was excellent.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Maybe Mr. Breed will do a segment about Tiger hitting a Fire Hydrant
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Rich Lerner brings "dork-dom" to the mainland
I thought…hoped…it was a one time thing last week when Rich Lerner brought dorkiness to xxx Golf Channel when he said “way to go big man” to Ernie Els. Turns out he’s brought it back from the islands with him. Showing a young man dressed in some pretty good looking argyle plus fours with matching socks, sweater, and tam, Lerner tossed in a “way to go youngster”. And once again, the object of his comment didn’t get an ice cream cone.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Court
Like I’ve said in the past, Lerner had no Golf or Sports Broadcasting experience prior to joining TGC. He was a sales and marketing manager for comcast. I can’t even stand looking at the guy anymore…jumpn/progolf
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Sales and Marketing
managers have no social skills worth listing….that’s why the kid didn’t get a cone…STUB
Course Tour
Check out this cool interactive tour of SilverRock Resort, one of the host courses for this year’s Bob Hope Classic!
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