UPDATE 3/31/08

Not a lot of movement this week...

Romero not the only happy one

If New Tex was watching golf on TV today, I bet he was giddy over Woody Austin's topped ball in the ruff on 18 and then having Woody shooting his 3rd shot on the par 5 into the water right of the green. The Dart Throwing Monkey (DTM) may be throwing darts, but it was New Tex who seemed to dodge one where it hurts today thanks to Woody.

UPDATE 3/24/08

Excal's rear view mirror is officially clear... the man is pulling away. After a solid top 5 in Puerto Rico, even Kevin Stadler is hitting on all cylinders. The battle for 2nd and 3rd is getting tighter as well.

Way to go Shize

The trade for Ogilvy is going to pay off nicely, even if he did try to limp his way to victory.

This Week's Trades

I (New Tex) am swapping out Jim Furyk and picking up Adam Scott.

Shades is dumping Robert Allenby and picking up Ian Poulter.

Stevie V. is saying sayanara to Chris DiMarco and taking on Ben Curtis.

So it is written. So it shall be done.

Trades

In an attempt to stay as transparent as possible, I'm going to put it out there that I am making a trade this week. I'm going to email Shize and tell him what the trade is, so that no one can accuse me of sniping them if the same trade comes in tomorrow or Wednesday. I'm emailing Shize because he's the only person who already pulled off a trade that couldn't pull off another one (so that eliminates Jeff). Plus, no one talks to Shize, so he won't give my genius away!

UPDATE 3/17/08... March Madness Edition

It's March, so you know what that means... DUKE will play well!

Duke's performance this week was a real kick in the crotch to those of you who shorted him... and to Jeff who told me he was about to pull the trigger to trade for him, but didn't. Ouch.

Here are the standings this week, which include last week's trades:

432 ... Excal
320 ... Jeff/Shades
299 ... Tev
277 ... Stan the Man
239 ... Steve T./Tex
233 ... Vic
162 ... Da Bandit
159 ... Shize
131 ... MG
18 ... DTM
-29 ... CASWAS
-35 ... Stevie V.
-45 ... Shane / Jay
-247 ... Robbo
-308 ... Johnny V.
-324 ... Ryan
-326 ... David / Mark

TRADES

Three trades this week.

CASWAS trades Adam Scott for Shaun Micheel.

Shize trades Jim Furyk for Geoff Ogilvy

DTM trades Henrik Stenson for Jerry Kelly (this was done with the same random number generator that "picked" DTMs team in the first place, but I made an executive decision that even a Dart Throwing Monkey would dump a guy with no Tour membership).

These trades will be reflected in next week's standings.

Trades

I have at least 3 trades to post, but will wait until tomorow morning to do so. Well, I am going to be in Birmingham, AL, so it may have to wait until Friday. Not sure if the internets make it all the way down yonder.

Butch Harmon Is A Jackass

I am sick and tired of the Cult of Personality among golf instructors and this has put me over the top. If Harmon wants to "drop" John Daly as a client, fine. But for him to make comments about how Daly is more interested in getting drunk than playing golf... that is way over the line in my opinion. Who the hell is Butch Harmon to make such a judgment call, and who the hell gives a rats ass about his opinions anyway? This is the same guy that Tiger dumped, right? Just checking. Too busy to invest his time and efforts... what a complete and total prick. Yeah, keep working with a bunch of wealthy 17 handicappers Butch... you're doing the game a real service.

Jackass.

Is Daly wasting his talent? Probably. But I think this was Harmon's chance to grab a much needed headline, and that is despicable. Maybe I'm just a sentimental, overweight, occassionally hard drinking, erratic golfer, but I've always wished the best for Daly and will continue to do so. If he wants to waste his talent, that's his business. If sponsors want to continue to give him exemptions, that's their business. I know this... I'll be in Daly's gallery at The Nelson this year, and I won't be alone. And if he misses the cut, at least I know where me and the boys can find him... at the local Hooters.

Give 'em hell John.

BTW, we are having a mini-FPGP outing at the end of April... Excal, Shades and Shane will be in town for some "golf". If anyone else is interested in coming down, let me know... we have plenty of room at Casa d' Tex.

UPDATE 3/10/08

Here is this week's update, our first during the so-called "trade window". We'll do our best to update every week during the trade window so everyone can make informed trades. If you want to look at more precise FPGP Data, click on the FPGP Data link on the right. Until I can figure out Google Spreadsheets a little more, I'll refer you to the link on the right because the actual link may change from time to time, but I'll keep it accurate on the sidebar.

Anyway, on with the update... Jeff has slid into the 2nd spot in Excal's rear view mirror, slightly ahead of Stan the Man. Vic remains in striking distance, with Tev chugging along. I'm holding down my permanent spot in 6th, and then it drops off pretty fast. Shize continues to lead the rookie class, but that is not the most impressive feat considering this year's group. The Dart Throwing Monkey (DTM), my "random" picks, is ahead of 4 players. Pathetic. BTW, DTM is making a trade to get rid of Henrik Stenson, so he may gain on everyone else...

LET THE TRADING BEGIN

Trading is now available, and will be for a couple of months. As a quick reminder:

1. You can make 1 trade, for $20.

2. If you make a trade during a tournament, it will not be effective until the next tournament.

3. You may trade for a player who is ranked LOWER than the player you are dumping on the 2007 money list.

4. Any (presumably) negative points that your dumped player "accumulated" is erased. It's like they never existed on your team.

5. You get the benefit of the new player going forward... so their "trade rank" is where they were on the week that you picke them up, NOT their 2007 money rank. Also, you only get the benefit of the dollars they earn going forward.We'll have this week's update up soon.

Shot of the Day: JG

Link

Ok, it's a nice putt, but seriously... no one knocked it stiff from 180 today?

If only he could really putt....

Bay Hill Invitational Field

This may only be a partial list.

http://www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com/GUIDE/pairings.aspx

O-Man is the worst pick of the year?

I realize the O-Man hasn't done squat, but he is far from being the worst pick of the FPGP year-to-date. In fact, the O-Man is in positive points as of right now. Who is the worst pick? That pick would be Henrick Stenson. After that there is Sean "Anyone know a good sports psychologist" O'Hair, Tim "The shortest guy to use a long putter" Clark, and a few more in negative numbers that would compete for "worst pick of the year".

Check out the point totals YTD on the FPGP Data page.

UPDATE 3/3/08

Excal is cruising... his team is a near perfect blend of players. He's not hanging his hat on any one guy, and they are pretty much all producing for him at this point. A Tour de Force. Unstoppable? Perhaps. I know this... we all better start pulling for Paul Goydos and Steve Flesch.

Better short pick: Calc or Duke?

With Woody Austin making at least $130K in the Accenture Match Play thru Friday, it looks like either Calc or Duke could be the best of the short picks. Ken Duke made $1,927,102 on the PGA Tour last year, while Mark Calcavecchia made $2,993,332. Both players may have way overachieved last year. Time will tell, but with short picks in the FPGP consisting of Steve Stricker, who is over $1 million in earnings and KJ Choi, who is over $1.3 million in earnings, it could be Calc or Duke that turn out to be the best short pick.

I'll keep hoping that Mark Wilson finds a way to miss cuts and in no way defend his win at the Honda Classic in 2007. And as for Mr. Appleby, damn you ESPN's Jason Sobel. I listened to your comments on Appleby and all he has done is overachieve this year. If Appleby is going through the motions, I bet New Tex will be psyched when Appleby applies himself. Couldn't Appleby do what other foreign golfers have done and hang out in Europe until March. Nooooooo. That would have been the right thing to do. Instead he has to come here and have top 10 finishes and beat Mickelson in match play. Damn you Appleby. Damn you!