Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Hell week!

This has been hell week for me, and I honestly don't have any time to put in the proper research and write a column that would be worth reading. So, I'm taking the week off.

I feel truly bad about this. I wrestled with this decision, but it's just the way it has to be this week.

Feel free to email me at Southpaw@Southpaw32.com if you have any questions!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

This has been a crazy week for me... New job, a couple of 12 hour days, blah blah blah...

Anyway, I am sorry this is coming out later than normal

Welcome back from the dead Justin Leonard! After last season, I had thought that we might never see Leonard rise to the top again, but obviously I was wrong. It will be interesting to see what the coming weeks bring for Leonard.

This week is the Buick Invitational, and since Buick pays Tiger Woods butt-loads of money, he will be there for sure! Phil Mickelson will also be gracing the tour with his presence this week. So, we have a little more star power this week.

Ok, I'm running late enough with this column, lets get to the picks!

ESPN Best Ball Challenge

My Picks

Tiger Woods – Tiger is 10 for 10 in top ten finishes here, with an average finsh of 2.9. Nevermind that fact he's won here five times.



Phil Mickelson – When Tiger isn't winning this event, Phil is...well not always, but still Phil is a solid play at this event.

Chez Reavie – Chez has made a nice entrance onto the PGA Tour this season, after a nice season on the Nationwide Tour last year. He finished 5th last week after posting a solid 32nd at the Sony. If he comes through again this week he will be a killer value!



Anthony Kim – Kim kept last season's good play rolling with a third place finish at the Bob Hope. I'm going to keep riding this kid until he proves me wrong.



Yahoo! Fantasy Golf
A Pool
My Picks

Tiger Woods



Phil Mickelson

OTHER: (NIX THAT! He just withdrew!) KJ Choi – Choi seems like a solid play after what he did at the Sony.


B Pool
My Picks

Justin Leonard – Is he for real this season? Let's find out!



Anthony Kim



Stephen Ames – Ames has two top 10 finish thus far, so why not see if he can keep it rolling.



Dustin Johnson – Fresh out of college, fresh on the tour and tearing things up! Johnson has posted a 12th and 10th place finish in two events in his rookie PGA campaign. This could be the start of something big!

C Pool
My Picks

Chez Reavie



Kenny Perry – I thought Perry might not be a factor this season, but it only took his second tourney of the season to prove me wrong. Let's see if he can keep going after his third place finish last week.



PGA Tour.com Salary Cap Cup
My Picks

Golfers


Salary
Tiger Woods

300000

Phil Mickelson


296750

Anthony Kim


196000

Dustin Johnson


92000

Chez Reavie


75000

TOTAL


$959,750

All the same suspects as listed above, and with over 40k left on the table. I hate to do that, but I do like this lineup, though it is a bit young and risky.

PGATour.com's Fantasy Pick'em

Group 1: Tiger Woods

Group 2: Stewart Cink

Group 3: Hunter Mahan

Group 4: Charles Howell III

Group 5: Brandt Snedeker

Group 6: Peter Lonard

Tie Breaker: Anthony Kim

League Signups

If you would like to compete against me and other "Tips From a Hooker" readers in any of the above mentioned leagues, here is the sign-up info:

ESPN.com's Best Ball
Sign-up HERE
After you have a team, click on Creat/Join a Group and search for "TMR Golf League"

Yahoo! Fantasy Golf '08
Sign-up HERE
Group ID#: 3498
Password: berry

CBS Sportlines's Fantasy Golf Challenge
Sign-up HERE
And then join the TMR Golf League by clicking HERE (If that doesn't work send me an email at Southpaw@Southpaw32.com and I'll send you a direct invite)

PGATour.com Fantasy Pick'em
Sign-up HERE
I have created a Buddy League under the name "Tips From A Hooker"

Password: hooker



Wade “Southpaw” Alberty was a regular columnist for TalentedMrRoto.com, writing about both golf and baseball, while constantly partoling the forums, and he has also written for ESPN.com. Wade is a lifetime golfer and has worked in the golf industry and played intercollegiate golf. He can help you set your weekly lineup, fix your swing, tweak your short game and tell you what clubs to buy. When he isn't playing fantasy sports, you can find Wade hacking up the links in St. Louis or anxiously awaiting outside the Busch Stadium as his Cardinals get ready for another season.



Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Drop Wade a note at Southpaw@Southpaw32.com

Hold tight...

I'll have my picks up soon!
It's been a very busy week!

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Bob Hope Chrysler Classic 1/16 - 1/20

**EDITOR'S NOTE: I'm still trying to find the best way to compose and publish this blog. I'm struggling right now with getting different formats/programs to play nice together, so I apologize if things look a bit out of wack. I am trying to get this out ASAP due to the Wed start!**

We won't speak of last week. It wasn't the best week for the Hooker, then again it wasn't that bad.

This week is the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic at the Bermuda Dunes Country Club, Bermuda Dunes, CA.

This is a FIVE-day event, with the first round starting on WEDNESDAY, so get your picks in EARLY!!!

Besides being five days, this is also a pro-am, so you will get to see a lot of familiar faces the first couple of days. With the extra day and the amateurs playing alongside, many pros are not a fan of this event and the potential distractions. Because of that I strongly recommend looking at a players history at this event!

I'm short on time this week, so enough talk...



ESPN Best Ball Challenge

My Picks

Chad Campbell – He's off to a nice start this season, and he won this event in 2006.

Scott Verplank – Verplank always seems to play well at this event, showing that the distractions don't bug him. After his great season last year I think he is a solid play this week.

Stewart Cink – This is Cink's first event of the season, so a bit of a gamble, but I think he is one of the "biggest" names at this event, so I'll give him a go.

Anthony Kim – He had a decent showing here last year, well before he went on his hot streak. What will 2008 bring for the young Mr. Kim? I don't know, but I'm anxious to find out!




Yahoo! Fantasy Golf
A Pool

My Picks

Kevin Na – I like the young Na, and have for the last couple of seasons. He's still young and still shows a lot of promise. He also seems to be streaky, and with a solid finish last week I'm hoping this is the upswing of a nice streak.

Scott Verplank


B Pool
My Picks

Chad Campbell

Stewart Cink

Anthony Kim

Daniel Chopra – As I said before Chopra seems to be a streaky golfer, and with his good play the first two weeks, I'm going to use him again.


C Pool

My Picks

Steve Marino – Marino had a strong showing last week, though his 4th round was disappointing. Regardless I'm going to ride him again.

John Rollins – He placed second here last year. That's good enough for me.



CBSSports.com Fantasy Golf Challenge
My Picks


Golfers
Salary

Scott Verplank
296750

Kevin Na
75000

Anthony Kim
91000

Chad Campbell
241500

Mike Weir
287000

TOTAL
$991,250

I was just $4000 shy of being able to afford Cink, so I took Weir instead. Na and Kim are great value!



PGATour.com Fantasy Pick'em

GROUP 1
Scott Verplank

GROUP 2
Boo Weekley

GROUP 3
John Rollins

GROUP 4
Anthony Kim

GROUP 5
Chad Campbell

GROUP 6
Troy Matteson

TIE BREAKER
Kevin Na

Not many surprises here I am sure. Weekley missed the cut last week, but I think the kid will bounce back. Matteson has looked good so far, so I'll give him a go as well.



Wade "Southpaw" Alberty is a lifetime golfer. He's worked in the golf industry and played intercollegiate golf. He can help you set your weekly lineup, fix your swing, tweak your short game and tell you what clubs to buy. He also knows a little bit about fantasy baseball.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Drop Wade a note at Southpaw@Southpaw32.com

THE BOB

Just a quick reminder, the Bob Hope starts on WEDNESDAY!

It's a five day event, so be sure to get your picks in today!

I'll have my picks post later today! (It's a 12 hour work day for me, ugh.)
So don't fret!

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Sony Open 1/10-1/13

Quick review of the Mercedes Benz Championship. Henrik Stenson you are now dead to me. Well at least for now.
Daniel Chopra, thanks for making me look very smart. Same goes to you Mr. Steve Stricker, as you continue your great play from last season.
I think Stricker has a good chance to be a top 5 golfer this season, baring injury.

This week brings us the first "real" tournament with the Sony Open. Once again the tour is in Hawaii, and I get to drool over the green grass and warm weather.
Last year Paul Goydos won the event. It was also the '07 coming out party for two hot youngsters in Charles Howell III and Luke Donald. That could be a trend that continues this year with over 25 players making their PGA Tour debut.

I'm on a tight schedule today, so enough with the small talk. Here are this week's picks:

ESPN.com Best Ball

Daniel Chopra - He's the hottest golfer on the tour this year, right? Let's see if last week was a fluke or not.

Steve Stricker - Second hottest golfer on the tour, and like I said before, I think he may be a force this season.

Charles Howell III - Played well here last year, and showed signs last season of having the potential to be a top competitor.

Jonathan Byrd - Byrd played some great top 25 golf last year, can he step that up this season?


Yahoo! Fantasy Golf

A POOL

Steve Stricker
Brandt Snedeker -
Snedeker looked good last week, picking up where he left off in '07, despite being under the weather. Hopefully he is back at full health this week and his game benefits from it.

B POOL

Daniel Chopra
Jonathan Byrd
Bo Van Pelt -
BVP is always a fav or mine for his consistency, though last season was a bit of a let down. Despite that, he did finish 13th at the Sony last year. That's good enough for me to give him a go.
John Seden - Seden put together a nice season last year, including a tie for 20th at the Sony.

C POOL

Paul Goydos - I'll give the defending champ a slot.
Steve Marino - Marino made a respectable showing here last year with a 34th place finish, as he went on to have a very solid '07 season. If he can expand on his success last year, he should be a great C Pool pick this year.

CBSSports.com Fantasy Golf Challenge

Paul Goydos
Steve Stricker
Steve Marion
Daniel Chopra
Brandt Snedeker


PGATour.com Fantasy Pick'em

This is a new addition for this year. I have created a Buddy League under the name "Tips From A Hooker" with the password: hooker
Join the league and compete against me and other TFAH readers!

Stricker
Aaron Baddeley
Snedker
Carl Pettersson
Steve Flesch
Chad Campbell


Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Mercedes-Benz Championship 1/3-1/6

The first tournament of the fantasy season is the Mercedes-Benz Championship. Only winners of events in 07 get invited to Hawaii for this event.
Tiger isn't making the trip to HI, along with other notable names in Mickelson, Padraig Harrington and Adam Scott. What that means is a small field is even smaller.

With a small field like this rosters can be very difficult to fill, especially when trying to stay within constraints like salary caps or player pools.

My personal feelings on this first event are that it is a big crap shoot. It's a new season and with that a fresh start for a lot of players. Who was hot in 2007 may not be in 08, and those disappoints of last year, might get the pieces back together again this year.
Basically, what I am saying is the Benz Championship is more or less a crap shoot in my mind!
With that said, here are my picks:

ESPN Best Ball

Chad Campbell - He disappointed me most of 2007. I'm hoping he can turn things around this season.

Steve Stricker - I'm still on the Stricker bandwagon. He made me look good last year, and I think he will again this year!

Jonathan Byrd - He put together a fine '07, and I think he will improve upon that, somewhat, this season.

Henrik Stenson - I like Stenson, so why not show him some love this first week?

BENCH: Hunter Mahan - I'm tempted to put Mahan in my starting lineup. Can he improve on his run he had last year? I highly doubt it, but if he comes close he could be a real force on the tour this season.


Yahoo! Fantasy Golf


A POOL
Henrik Stenson
Zach Johnson - Anyone who has read my column knows that I have had a man crush on ZJ for a couple of years now, and last year my crush became full blown love. I was disappointed with his finish last year, but I think Zach will have a very good 2008

B POOL
Jonathan Byrd
Chad Campbell
Daniel Chopra - Chopra disappointed me last year, but I'm willing to kiss and make up.
Steve Flesch - I honestly didn't like anyone else in the pool, so welcome to the team Mr. Flesch.

C POOL
Paul Goydos and Fred Funk are the ONLY two available players in this pool!

CBSSports.com Fantasy Golf Challenge dose not start until the Sony Open!

So there are my picks this week. Pretty unimpressive if I may say so myself, then again come Sunday they will probably look at lot worse or better!

BE SURE TO SEE THE PREVIOUS POST FOR LEAGUE SIGN-UP INFO!!!!

As always, if you have questions you can reach me at Southpaw@southpaw32.com

Good Luck!

Tips From A Hooker LIVES!!!

Welcome! This is my new fantasy golf blog!

If you don't know me my name is Wade Alberty, I'm also known as "Southpaw" and "The Hooker," and I have been/am a fantasy sports columnist for TalentedMrRoto.com and ESPN.com.
My true loves and passion are fantasy baseball and golf, though the last couple of years I have focus my writing on fantasy golf with a weekly column at the now deceased TalentedMrRoto.com.
Since ESPN.com already has a great fantasy golf writer in Shawn Peters, I decided to start this blog so I can continue give my weekly picks and advice!

This year I will be focusing on the fantasy golf games of ESPN.com, Yahoo! and CBSSportsline.com.
If there are any other good fantasy games out there that you would like my input on let me know, as I am always looking for another way to ghttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifet my fix!

If you would like to join me/compete against me in any of the above mentioned leagues, here is the sign-up info:

ESPN.com's Best Ball
Sign-up HERE
After you have a team, click on Creat/Join a Group and search for "TMR Golf League"

Yahoo! Fantasy Golf '08
Sign-up HERE
Group ID#: 3498
Password: berry

CBS Sportlines's Fantasy Golf Challenge
Sign-up HERE
And then join the TMR Golf League by clicking HERE
(If that doesn't work send me an email at Southpaw@Southpaw32.com and I'll send you a direct invite)


So here it is, my fantasy golf blog! I don't have my faithful editor, Ken Weitzman, this year. Ken has made me look a lot smarter than I am at times with his fine editing skills! So if this reads a little rough at times I apologize, but hey it's free!
As always feel free to email me with any questions, comments, complaints or anything else, at Southpaw@Southpaw32.com

Good luck in the 2008 season!