Down Goes Excal!

Well, it wasn't a pretty performance, but Team Tex with only one player making the cut at the PGA takes down Team Excal. Final numbers:

Michelson (Tex): $231,250

Furyk (Excal): $47,550
Kim (Excal): $15,750
Weir (Excal): $24,500

That's $150 to Team Tex for the season! Thanks for playing Excal!

Have You Seen Me?

Missing: Canadian, mid 40s, known for short drives and long stays at the clubhouse getting beer. Needed to partake in Majors Side Bet. If he doesn't show up on the blog in time to partake in said bet, he'll be stuck $100 for the year in the Side Bets.

And yes, I thought about pasting his mug on a beer bottle...

PGA Side Bet

I'm assuming Excal wants a chance to get his money back (he's down $100 on the year) even though I haven't heard from him yet to confirm that we are on for our normal major's side bet. Same rules, and it's my turn to pick first. Picks are in the comments section.

BRITISH OPEN SIDE BET

Me vs. Excal, once again.

Same rules as always, although I'm happy to waive the "No Tiger Rule" if Da Former Commish wants to take him.

Our picks are in the comments section. Excal gets the first pick.

Congratulations

To, well... me for taking Excal down in our US Open bet and squaring our season up.

And to The Shize, for shorting Rocco Mediate. Way to pick 'em rook!

Bandit: The Last Man With Balls

During my thread with Excal in which we were making our U.S. Open picks, I commented on the absurdity of taking Justin Leonard. I even offered Excal a $10 side bet that the Texas Grinder wouldn't make the cut. And, Excal summarily rejected my offer.

Huh?

You pick a guy with the 3rd pick in your draft, and then won't take a $10 bet on him MAKING THE CUT? Although Excal claims to "leave a little of himself behind wherever he goes" I am wondering if this is possible without functioning testicles.

However, Da Bandit emailed me this morning and said he'd take the bet, and of course when one honorable Pollack offers another honorable Pollack such a wager, the second honorable Pollack will accept. Hold on, I'm confused. Which Pollack am I? Oh, nevermind...

The bet is on, only with Da Bandit. $10. Will Justin Leanoard make the cut? I say yes, he say's no.

Thanks for a little action Bandit, and thanks even more for showing how PATHETIC Excal is.

US OPEN BET

It's that time again.

Me vs. Excal.

5 player teams. Team with the most earnings wins $50. If the winner of the tourney is on your team, that's an extra $50. I'm already down $50 from our Master's bet, but I have the first pick this time around. We'll put our picks in the comments section.

MASTERS SIDE BET... TEX V. EXCAL

It's that time of year once again... the birds are singing, the bees are buzzing, the azaleas are bloomin' and Excal and I must wage war with each other in our traditional Majors Side Bets.

The rules are the same as always. We each pick 5 players in draft format. The team that nets the most earnings wins $50. If a team includes the winner, that's an additional $50. Tiger is off the table.

As always, we'll do our draft in the comments section of this post. Having destroyed Excal in these little wagers over the years, I will once again allow him to start the season off with the first pick in the draft. I'll get first pick for the US Open, he'll go first for the British, yadda yadda yadda.

OK, Excal... it's your move. Take Mickelson and get it over with.

ANOTHER CRUSHING BLOW DEALT TO EXCAL!!

Another major, another triumph for Team New Tex. Despite the hubris that lead to picking John Rollins with his 5th selection, New Tex dealt Excal yet another crushing defeat... here's how it stacked up:

There were two pushes, so their money doesn't matter...

Harrington and the Lil Grinder (Toms) push at +8
Rose and Choo Choo push at +2

That left Tex with Verplank who pocketted the sweet sum of $170,333.

Excal's remaining "players" were Stricker ($51,000) and Cink Sank Sunk ($34,750). That left the former commish about $90,000 short.

Justice.

That makes the score 3-1 in favor of New Tex, so Excal has to cough up an even hundo.

Nice doing business with ya. You can paypal the money, or just add it to your FPGP entry next season... I know you're good for it.

Another One Too Close To Call...

My bet with Excal is too close to call right now... here's how it stands.

Harrington and the Lil Grinder (Toms) push at +8
Rose and Choo Choo push at +2

That leaves me with Verplank at +1 and T10 currently, and him with Stricker +5 (T23) and Cink +6 (T32) currently.

It's going to be very close...

PGA Early Report...

Excal and I suck!

Four guys on the course in the morning (Cink, Stricker, Choi, and Furyk) and they are combined 12 over par. Furyk is playing like Craig Perks... I guess that injury was worse than I thought. Damn.

Excal, what happens if none of our guys make the cut? Is that a draw?

Majors Challenge Part IV: The Voodoo Legend

OK, let's not work the brinksmanship angle on this one, and you know who you are (da Rodent). I need your team of six sans el Tigre and your projection for the winning score relative to par. You have until Wed at 2359 hrs.

PGA Side Bet

Same rules as always, Excal...

1. No Tiger.
2. Team earning the most money gets $50.
3. Picking the Winner... $50.

You're down $50 going into this one...

Picks are in the comment section. I go first.
--------------------------

The Teams are in... here they are:

New Tex: Furyk, Harrington, Verplank, Rose, Rollins

Excal: Choi, Stricker, Toms, T. Clark, Cink

Excal Wins By Slim Margin!

Excal triumphs over New Tex!

New Tex's squad earned a total of $493,731. Excal's team had $490,763 without Fasthhhhhhh, who's earning I can't get... but I know he made more than $3,000.

Well done Excal...

That puts you down $50 for the season, with a chance to get it square in August.

Too Close To Call...

Did Els make more than Choo Choo, Furyk and Rose combined? I think he probably did, but we'll have to wait and see...

Meanwhile... nice putting Sergio.

Open Day 3...

Team New Tex has a decent lead over Excal, but it could all go away quickly if Ernie Els goes low tomorrow. Basically, I need to have one of my guys finish tied with Ernie to lock this baby up, or at least have Ernie not finish solo 3rd or better, assuming the rest of my boys don't go sideways.

New Tex:

Choi (-3)
Furyk (-2)
Singh (-2)
Rose (-1)

Excal:

Els (-3)
Casey (+1)
Fasthhhhhh (+4thhhh)
Donald (+6)

Anyone want to lay a few quid on Sergio winning this thing?

Voodoo, One Man and a Few Brain Cells Short

Despite spotting his fellow competitors a man in the FPGP Major's Challenge Part III, Voodoo has the lead after Day Two. Voodoo is at 557, Talonflier at 563, Rodent is at 568, and the Bandit is at 570. Now, after cut day Voodoo no longer is at a disadvantage, but he pushes 5 players into the weekend. The rest of us just pushed the necessary contingent of 4 players into the weekend mix having lost Mickelson (all 3 of us), Donald (two of us), and Rodent losing Allenby to C-Nasty. Will Voodoo put two wins back to back and solidify his season championship position...nah, Garcia will implode.

British Open Side Bet, Day 2

Chugga chugga chugga CHOO CHOO!!!

Team New Tex put the whoopin' down today, but there is still too much windy golf to be played. Here's where we stand after 2 rounds:

New Tex:

Choi (-4)
Furyk (-2)
Singh (+1)
Rose (+3)
Stenson (MC)

Excal:

Els (E)
Fasth (+2)
Casey (+3)
Donald (+4)
Missedcut-elson (MC)

The Rodent Makes It!

Official time was 1139 CDT, but Rob made it by a rat nose with his picks:
Rodent: Mickelson, Furyk, Goosen, Scott, Donald, Allenby (no TB, loses any ties)
Bocca: Casey, Donald, Fasth, Mickelson, Petterson, Rose (-4 TB)
Voodoo: Cabrera, Goosen, Garcia, Olazabal, Els, Scott (-2 TB)
Talonflier: Mickelson, Weir, Furyk, Donald, Rose, Casey (-5 TB)

British Open Side Bet

Hey Vic, did you guys not make picks for the British?

As for me and Excal, it is pretty much a dead heat after day 1. Here's where we stand:

New Tex:

Choi (-2)
Furyk (-1)
Stenson (E)
Singh (+1)
Rose (+4)

Excal:

Donald (-1)
Mickelson (E)
Els (+1)
Casey (+1)
Fasth (+4)

I am scared to death of Paul Casey... I was going to take him with my #2 pick, but didn't think Excal would think to take him at #3. Look for a little 64-66 out of Casey tomorrow.