Irish Times Fantasy Golf

Macduff Gardener

What a difference a week makes - talk about "spread betting". My analysis of the Top 20 teams this week shows that - Captain wise, 6 each have gone for Day and Johnson; 3 for Garcia; 2 each for McIlroy and Spieth; and "Greying Shades of Fifty", who must be on holiday or something, left his team unchanged - Stenson as captain and didn't even claim his 5 subs for this week - hope you're OK fella!! Player selection wise there are quite a few surprises from last week - Colsaerts and Johnson appear in 17 teams each; Day in 14; Spieth 11; Chappell, A Johnston, Kaymer and McIlroy in 10; Grace, Luiten and Molinari in 6; and five have gone for Els, Noren and Garcia. The rest of the 200 picks are made up of 28 separate players. The bit I don't understand is that 4 teams have kept Bourdy, who I don't think is playing either side of the pond this week, even though they have subs left. My team is Coulsaerts, Day, Els, Hatton, Johnson, Noren, Ramsay, Rose, Scott (Captain) and Westwood - hoping that Hatton, Rose, Scott and Westwood, as unpopular picks, might give me a couple of extra points. All to play for - all the best to everybody.

Macduff Gardener

Interesting to note that only one person in the Top 20 picked Mickelson - changes could be afoot!! I may have to eat "humble pie" - big chunks of it!! All the best for the rest of today Boardsers.

Potential Underachiever

Potential Underachiever wrote: »

My team for the week....


Transfers In....... Day, D.J, Willett, Garcia, Reifers

Players Kept........ Johnston, Kaymer, Noren, Colsaerts, Donald

Transferred out....... Stenson, Grace, Lowry, Jaidee, Larrazabal


I've a feeling that one of the transferred out guys might bite me in the arse! Left out Rory and Spieth, that's a risk. Willett another risky pick but has a good links record even if currently not playing great. I see the leader has just gone with the big 4, I don't blame him, I guess he's just laying his cards on the table and saying 'have a bit of that' if you want to get creative by all means but he's toploading!

Hello Henrik, how you doin'?!

ItsChecoTime

Potential Underachiever wrote: »

Hello Henrik, how you doin'?!

Don't feel too bad, I transferred out Mickelson and Stenson this week!

jimmers

ItsChecoTime wrote: »

Don't feel too bad, I transferred out Mickelson and Stenson this week!

Ouch! Makes me feel slighty better - I transferred out Mickelson but kept Stenson. At the moment 9 of my team have made the cut with Colsaerts right on the edge currently.

Macduff Gardener

I managed to get 8 through to the cut, losing Els and Ramsay but only 2 currently in points scoring positions. I ditched Stenson and Kaymer - must have been "under the influence" - on reflection I think I was!!.
It appears that out of the 200 picks in the Top 20 only 15 were lost at the cut and 4 were never available (Bourdy).
Never over "til the fat lady sings", but I think she might be gargling with her mouthwash and reaching for the throat lozenges as regards my chances this weekend. Apparently my wife agrees with her!!
All the best for the rest of the weekend - looks like the weather is going to play another important part over both days.

Macduff Gardener

If you note my blurb #1302 you'll see I mentioned Greying Shades of 50 and how he hadn't changed his team or claimed his subs for this week, Like I said I hope he/she is Ok but as far as the game goes he is the only ranked player to include Mickelson and also has Stenson as Captain; and aside from Bourdy, all 9 of his other players made the cut. Looks like being a game changing score!! Well done that man/woman. As for me - just about "up the Swanee without a paddle". The Fat Lady is reaching for the microphone!!

Clauric

Lost only Els from my team. Have Mickelson and Stenson, as well as Stricker and Dustin Johnson, although my captain is Day. Not too bad a week, although it was looking better earlier on with Colsaerts, Kaymer and Cabrera Bello all up there.

Potential Underachiever

Potential Underachiever wrote: »

My team for the week....


Transfers In....... Day, D.J, Willett, Garcia, Reifers

Players Kept........ Johnston, Kaymer, Noren, Colsaerts, Donald

Transferred out....... Stenson, Grace, Lowry, Jaidee, Larrazabal


I've a feeling that one of the transferred out guys might bite me in the arse! Left out Rory and Spieth, that's a risk. Willett another risky pick but has a good links record even if currently not playing great. I see the leader has just gone with the big 4, I don't blame him, I guess he's just laying his cards on the table and saying 'have a bit of that' if you want to get creative by all means but he's toploading!

Very meh kind of a week, captain fail(Day), got rid of Stenson, Willett performed poorly, had Beef backed E.W top 7 he finished 8th etc etc... dropped 30 places or so to 288

Macduff Gardener

Congratulations johnny86 I believe you must have now overtaken me - I dropped 27 places to 57th and you may have progressed into the Top 20 - well deserved indeed. Looking at the Top 20 I will be eating "humble pie" til the end of the competition. "Greying Shades of Fifty" moved up to 2nd without any effort at all - truly amazing. The "Fat Lady" sang her heart out and I kicked seven bucket's of s..t out of my unruly mouse!! Think I may have to invest in a more intelligent computer. Oh well .... back to the drawing board.

Johnny86

Macduff Gardener wrote: »

Congratulations johnny86 I believe you must have now overtaken me - I dropped 27 places to 57th and you may have progressed into the Top 20 - well deserved indeed. Looking at the Top 20 I will be eating "humble pie" til the end of the competition. "Greying Shades of Fifty" moved up to 2nd without any effort at all - truly amazing. The "Fat Lady" sang her heart out and I kicked seven bucket's of s..t out of my unruly mouse!! Think I may have to invest in a more intelligent computer. Oh well .... back to the drawing board.

Cheers man, I'm in 27th now - a decent week with Stenson and Garcia as captain this week. Have had the tournament winner for a good few weeks in a row too. Taking 'Beef' out of the team cost me points while McIlroy's good final round saved a good few people.

I think the team in 3rd last week has dropped to 8th so still plenty of big moves going on. Greying Shades of Fifty made over 1,000pts on the leader last week so shows what is still possible.

POB1968

anyone got today's password please ?

denis1501

The password is Fowler

BOB81

Password is fowler this week

POB1968

Cheers

Johnny86

Blog for the penultimate week is up...need two big weeks to make some ground however I think it might be tricky this week as many will have the same picks (e.g. Day, Johnson and Kuchar).

https://itfantasygolf.wordpress.com/2016/07/19/week-16-canadian-open/

Macduff Gardener

Amazing how the cogs of mathematical calculations take their time to resolve complex issues like ...... 2 + 2 = 4.
I have now been demoted from 57th yesterday (Monday), to 64th today (Tuesday) - dropped a full 34 places as a result of "The Open" - the slippery slide has got me in its grip - I just wish the game-masters would get a grip!!
Still, on the brighter side, it's my wife's birthday on Saturday so I'm whipping her off to Paris for the weekend - can't see me scoring there much either!!
All the best for the RBC gents.

Potential Underachiever

Serious lack of options/talent in the Canadian Open!

pooman

Ah if you want to make strides this and next week you need to pick obscure lads and hope for the best, with 2 events to go its juggler time, I'm languishing down in 421st so not too bothered if it goes pearshaped at this stage. I've 10 for this week who are all in the field for next week carrying over 1 sub to next week for PGA options but I recon just go for it.. the leaders will have Day, Dusty, Kuch - avoid them all and hope they're only here because of sponsors and really don't fancy it, miss the cut for extra rest before the PGA and some Joe wins for the lads

Johnny86

Charley Hoffman withdraws.....

Potential Underachiever

Unlucky Johnny86, it stings when that happens.



My team this week is.....

Retained players : DJ (c), Day, Reifers

Transferred in : Kuchar, Furyk, McGirt, Knost, Finau

Inactive : Beef, Garcia

Lots of similar teams this week, I'd imagine everybody has Day and DJ so it's a captain battle bewteen those two. I never thought I'd see a day I'd be picking Knost or McGirt but here we are!

Good Luck.

pooman

William McGirt
Ernie Els
Cameron Tringale
K.J. Choi
Daniel Summerhays
Jimmy Walker
Roberto Castro
Danny Lee
Emiliano Grillo
Jim Furyk

Wouldn't say too many have this lineup of duds

jimmers

pooman wrote: »

William McGirt
Ernie Els
Cameron Tringale
K.J. Choi
Daniel Summerhays
Jimmy Walker
Roberto Castro
Danny Lee
Emiliano Grillo
Jim Furyk

Wouldn't say too many have this lineup of duds

Hope you're getting a good interest rate on all the money in the bank!

jimmers

Johnny86 wrote: »

Charley Hoffman withdraws.....

Was wondering what had happened to him - only Hoffman I could find was Morgan. Annoying alright!

Johnny86

Anyone else notice that this league has both the guy in 1st and 4th in the overall in it? Think they were 1st and 2nd last week.

https://fantasygolf.irishtimes.com/league.aspx?page=league&id=10900

Potential Underachiever

I'm fairly sure there are lots of people who have multiple teams in, the league with all the Spieth admirers particularly reeks, I just don't buy it that there'd be that many women playing the game.

Johnny86

Yeah - in one way, if you're going to all that bother then you're welcome to it but makes it impossible for the rest of us if someone if covering all the different combinations. It is one team per entrant in the rules - wonder if they could see IP addresses?

pooman

I know for a fact that the lad who came 9th last year has 5 teams in it this year. Tbh i'll be doing it next season

Macduff Gardener

That sounds like some scoundrel is cheating. Surely not, I thought this was just a social thing - apart from coming in the top three of course. Paris is lovely and sunny - my wife enjoyed her birthday yesterday and I have Snedeker as captain. Just goes to prove "there's no gain without pain". Good luck for today everybody - I'll be getting dragged around Versailles.

Potential Underachiever

Johnny86 wrote: »

Yeah - in one way, if you're going to all that bother then you're welcome to it but makes it impossible for the rest of us if someone if covering all the different combinations. It is one team per entrant in the rules - wonder if they could see IP addresses?

I wouldn't have thought so, the clowns running it couldn't find their own ass with both hands.

jimmers

pooman wrote: »

William McGirt 59th
Ernie Els 65th
Cameron Tringale 14th
K.J. Choi 38th
Daniel Summerhays Cut
Jimmy Walker 14th
Roberto Castro 65th
Danny Lee 77th
Emiliano Grillo 43rd
Jim Furyk 13th

Wouldn't say too many have this lineup of duds

Was wondering how you did. Nothing really came off did it, but worth a try. Might have been better to go with 2 premium players and 8 punts?

pooman

Ah ye cheers, was a good bit behind and went with a mixed bunch that I thought would give me a go, Tringale was my captain, just couldn't make that push on the back 9 Sunday.

For this week I've 6 subs and 9.5 in the bank so I'll be bringing in more of the big guns but not the top top lads in the market as I still need differentials - The lucky last as they call it

swanswan

anyone got the password?

Johnny86

Baltusrol

jackboland

Johnny86 wrote: »

Anyone else notice that this league has both the guy in 1st and 4th in the overall in it? Think they were 1st and 2nd last week.

fantasygolf.irishtimes.com/league.aspx?page=league&id=10900

Hey guys,

First post on here, I felt I needed to give my two cents on the situation. I'm currently coming 5th overall so this problem directly affects me. I'm glad that somebody else finally noticed this cheating. I have emailed them twice about the league with evidence to this fact.

I'm going to link some screenshots of the 2nd email I sent them about... still awaiting a proper reply.

Let me know what you guys think, I could do with a bit of support! I feel like Dustin with the USGA at the US Open.. Thanks for reading and here are is the links to the email.

tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2mmry9&s=9#.V5fUz5MrJE5
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=f1mpw9&s=9#.V5fVEJMrJE4
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=1z354d5&s=9#.V5fVF5MrJE4
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=id9bo4&s=9#.V5fVHZMrJE4
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=1z3t5zp&s=9#.V5fVIpMrJE4
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2dlj0af&s=9#.V5fVJ5MrJE4
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=10n9wns&s=9#.V5fVLJMrJE4

Can't link them properly as I'm a new user, sorry.

Potential Underachiever

jackboland wrote: »

Hey guys,

First post on here, I felt I needed to give my two cents on the situation. I'm currently coming 5th overall so this problem directly affects me. I'm glad that somebody else finally noticed this cheating. I have emailed them twice about the league with evidence to this fact.

I'm going to link some screenshots of the 2nd email I sent them about... still awaiting a proper reply.

Let me know what you guys think, I could do with a bit of support! I feel like Dustin with the USGA at the US Open.. Thanks for reading and here are is the links to the email.

tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2mmry9&s=9#.V5fUz5MrJE5
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=f1mpw9&s=9#.V5fVEJMrJE4
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=1z354d5&s=9#.V5fVF5MrJE4
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=id9bo4&s=9#.V5fVHZMrJE4
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=1z3t5zp&s=9#.V5fVIpMrJE4
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2dlj0af&s=9#.V5fVJ5MrJE4
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=10n9wns&s=9#.V5fVLJMrJE4

Can't link them properly as I'm a new user, sorry.

5th place, so you must be 'DeChambeau Era' ? I always wanted to ask what's the fascination you have with the guy? I believe you even captained him one of the weeks!?! Looks like a blind spot, but it's not holding you back! I'm not extracting the urine just genuinely curious!

As far as your problem goes, I really can sympathise with you, if I was in 5th I would be fairly pissed off how it's going down, I would 100% agree that it is happening, and I would not be confident on the crowd running it to be keeping on top of it, as someone mentioned earlier I was already thinking about next year with a if you can't beat em join em mentality and was probably going to enter a few teams. Interested to hear what feedback you will get from the organisers. Best of luck.

Johnny86

Blog for the final week up

https://itfantasygolf.wordpress.com/2016/07/26/week-17-pga-championship/

jackboland

Potential Underachiever wrote: »

5th place, so you must be 'DeChambeau Era' ? I always wanted to ask what's the fascination you have with the guy? I believe you even captained him one of the weeks!?! Looks like a blind spot, but it's not holding you back! I'm not extracting the urine just genuinely curious!

As far as your problem goes, I really can sympathise with you, if I was in 5th I would be fairly pissed off how it's going down, I would 100% agree that it is happening, and I would not be confident on the crowd running it to be keeping on top of it, as someone mentioned earlier I was already thinking about next year with a if you can't beat em join em mentality and was probably going to enter a few teams. Interested to hear what feedback you will get from the organisers. Best of luck.

I am indeed, ha, basically I had him backed at 400/1 for the Masters because I'd watched him romp the US amateur. He was going well until the 18th on the Friday.. after that I just couldn't have him coming in for someone else and not have, given my team name. He's cost me alright, the worst putter on tour inside 10feet I'd imagine. Awful.

I hope they sort it out and remove the teams from those leagues, the evidence I've presented is pretty damning. Sent that email 3weeks ago at this stage. I mentioned the Jordan Speith Fan Club league in the other email too, but didn't bother following them up as they weren't coming 1st and 2nd overall.

Potential Underachiever

jackboland wrote: »

I am indeed, ha, basically I had him backed at 400/1 for the Masters because I'd watched him romp the US amateur. He was going well until the 18th on the Friday.. after that I just couldn't have him coming in for someone else and not have, given my team name. He's cost me alright, the worst putter on tour inside 10feet I'd imagine. Awful.

I hope they sort it out and remove the teams from those leagues, the evidence I've presented is pretty damning. Sent that email 3weeks ago at this stage. I mentioned the Jordan Speith Fan Club league in the other email too, but didn't bother following them up as they weren't coming 1st and 2nd overall.

Yes, I remember he was added late to the list for the masters which I didn't notice until after the event having previously checked to see if he was in the game! Good player, I am fascinated by his clubs and how he plays the game but he hasn't done much since The Masters.

You say you sent that Email 3 weeks ago? That's a concern if they have not resolved it yet, have you got any feedback at all off them? 3 weeks is a major pisstake as it is but not really surprised at the same time.

jackboland

Potential Underachiever wrote: »

Yes, I remember he was added late to the list for the masters which I didn't notice until after the event having previously checked to see if he was in the game! Good player, I am fascinated by his clubs and how he plays the game but he hasn't done much since The Masters.

You say you sent that Email 3 weeks ago? That's a concern if they have not resolved it yet, have you got any feedback at all off them? 3 weeks is a major pisstake as it is but not really surprised at the same time.

Yeh he'd be quality if he could learn how to get a handle on the short putts, Sergio 2.0. I made my changes early the week I had him captain, I knew people would see it, meant to change it but missed the deadline.

This was their last reply;

Query Ref - 251321
Date Updated - 15/07/2016 16:32:23

Update Information :

Hi there,

We will investigate this and get back to you with a conclusion as soon as possible.

Regards
Support team

Thorough.

Potential Underachiever

jackboland wrote: »

Yeh he'd be quality if he could learn how to get a handle on the short putts, Sergio 2.0. I made my changes early the week I had him captain, I knew people would see it, meant to change it but missed the deadline.

This was their last reply;

Query Ref - 251321
Date Updated - 15/07/2016 16:32:23

Update Information :

Hi there,

We will investigate this and get back to you with a conclusion as soon as possible.

Regards
Support team

Thorough.

I'd be certainly giving them a few nudges if you haven't already, maybe just a gif like below.......

LuckyGent88

Johnny86 wrote: »

Blog for the final week up

https://itfantasygolf.wordpress.com/2016/07/26/week-17-pga-championship/

Fair play to all the work you put in. Very helpful and informative. Hope you did well yourself overall.

decmcc1

jackboland wrote: »

I am indeed, ha, basically I had him backed at 400/1 for the Masters because I'd watched him romp the US amateur. He was going well until the 18th on the Friday.. after that I just couldn't have him coming in for someone else and not have, given my team name. He's cost me alright, the worst putter on tour inside 10feet I'd imagine. Awful.

I hope they sort it out and remove the teams from those leagues, the evidence I've presented is pretty damning. Sent that email 3weeks ago at this stage. I mentioned the Jordan Speith Fan Club league in the other email too, but didn't bother following them up as they weren't coming 1st and 2nd overall.

Well as the admin of the Jordan Spieth Fan club I can assure you that everyone in that league follows golf as much as I do and make their own teams each week. May I ask what makes you think I'm a cheater? The fact that more than one member of a family has a golf team?

paintitblack

LuckyGent88 wrote: »

Fair play to all the work you put in. Very helpful and informative. Hope you did well yourself overall.

+1 to this. The blog and spreadsheets made picking a team so much easier. Fair play.

labadze

jackboland wrote: »

Hey guys,

First post on here, I felt I needed to give my two cents on the situation. I'm currently coming 5th overall so this problem directly affects me. I'm glad that somebody else finally noticed this cheating. I have emailed them twice about the league with evidence to this fact.

I'm going to link some screenshots of the 2nd email I sent them about... still awaiting a proper reply.

Let me know what you guys think, I could do with a bit of support! I feel like Dustin with the USGA at the US Open.. Thanks for reading and here are is the links to the email.

tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2mmry9&s=9#.V5fUz5MrJE5
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=f1mpw9&s=9#.V5fVEJMrJE4
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=1z354d5&s=9#.V5fVF5MrJE4
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=id9bo4&s=9#.V5fVHZMrJE4
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=1z3t5zp&s=9#.V5fVIpMrJE4
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2dlj0af&s=9#.V5fVJ5MrJE4
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=10n9wns&s=9#.V5fVLJMrJE4

Can't link them properly as I'm a new user, sorry.

Unfortunately there's a fair amount of money up for grabs and as such you get these chancers. I raised a similar issue with the game organisers of last year's rugby world cup. When I flagged it, it was evident that one person had the top 5 teams and 7 of the top 10. As it turned out he had 153 teams entered (at least). It took more than 3 weeks to get rid of him, as there was toing and froing between the party involved, the game operator, the Irish Times and their legal team. As others have pointed out though, given the dreadful record of the operators of this game to date, I wouldn't be filled with confidence that they will handle it appropriately. If you haven't already, I would contact the Irish Times directly. I did earlier in the competition when the operators were refusing to take action over the incorrect scoring being applied and this eventually resolved the matter. Good luck!

labadze

jackboland wrote: »

Hey guys,

First post on here, I felt I needed to give my two cents on the situation. I'm currently coming 5th overall so this problem directly affects me. I'm glad that somebody else finally noticed this cheating. I have emailed them twice about the league with evidence to this fact.

I'm going to link some screenshots of the 2nd email I sent them about... still awaiting a proper reply.

Let me know what you guys think, I could do with a bit of support! I feel like Dustin with the USGA at the US Open.. Thanks for reading and here are is the links to the email.

tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2mmry9&s=9#.V5fUz5MrJE5
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=f1mpw9&s=9#.V5fVEJMrJE4
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=1z354d5&s=9#.V5fVF5MrJE4
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=id9bo4&s=9#.V5fVHZMrJE4
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=1z3t5zp&s=9#.V5fVIpMrJE4
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2dlj0af&s=9#.V5fVJ5MrJE4
tinypic.com/view.php?pic=10n9wns&s=9#.V5fVLJMrJE4

Can't link them properly as I'm a new user, sorry.

BTW Jack, just sent an email to the operator urging them to investigate and take action (for what it's worth).

pooman

Good luck boys

Brandt Snedeker
Branden Grace (C)
Joost Luiten
Jason Dufner
Jim Furyk
Cameron Tringale
Ernie Els
William McGirt
Jimmy Walker
K.J. Choi

3 unused subs, wasn't bothered tbh

jackboland

decmcc1 wrote: »

Well as the admin of the Jordan Spieth Fan club I can assure you that everyone in that league follows golf as much as I do and make their own teams each week. May I ask what makes you think I'm a cheater? The fact that more than one member of a family has a golf team?

My apologies, I just checked my original email and the 2nd league was actually "Straight Hitters", with the teams Fergals Fliers, Maireads Marvels, Helens Heroes etc. Genuinely just a mistake, I knew your league was up there all season and just mixed them up because somebody said something about your league. Not even sure about "Straight Hitters" but the "Golf Fans" league is definitely dodgy.

Cheers, Labadze, appreciate the support!

I've gone Day(C) as I presume most will go Rory. The real question now is where do I stand, 3rd or 5th?!

decmcc1

jackboland wrote: »

My apologies, I just checked my original email and the 2nd league was actually "Straight Hitters", with the teams Fergals Fliers, Maireads Marvels, Helens Heroes etc. Genuinely just a mistake, I knew your league was up there all season and just mixed them up because somebody said something about your league. Not even sure about "Straight Hitters" but the "Golf Fans" league is definitely dodgy.

Cheers, Labadze, appreciate the support!

I've gone Day(C) as I presume most will go Rory. The real question now is where do I stand, 3rd or 5th?!

Haha no bother. I'm sure you're all just jealous of the original Spieth themed names. I hope you get a better finish than 3rd. I've been there or there abouts without really threatening all year. The guy who is leading my league has been in the top 10 and back out like a yo-yo but could never get closer unfortunately.

pooman

Reports are that Jason Day is sick as a dog, hasn't played a practice round and was in A&E until 2am this morning.. I'd rather not have him. Could be why I'm 500th though :pac: