A (Fantasy) Cut Above The Rest

As fantasy sports games or betting goes I’ve never been good at predicting form or failure and never really been interested in it. There are so many variables to consider and golf especially can be a fickle friend. As I spend so much of my working career looking at patterns and data and trying to come to an analysis-based result, in my free time the last thing I want to do is sit and analyze anything else. I prefer to throw a little caution to the wind and go with the flow. Hell, why do think I play golf?!

So when a friend of mine last year suggested that I joined Ladies Dream Golf, an online fantasy golf game run by a lady called Kelley in the States with the aim of raising money for players on the Symetra Tour, I gave it some deliberation and threw a little of that caution to the wind again. After all, it’s just a bit of fun and the money goes to a good cause, although you can play for free if you like. I love supporting women’s golf and if a few dollars can help a youngster attain their dream of playing on the LPGA then I’m up for it.

So I find myself and my trusted friend, Gut Feeling, sitting in front of my laptop with a list of players names on the screen. Click, click, clickety click and my four best picks were made. No scientific analysis whatsoever. Gut Feeling picked out my favourite players for their charm, wit, hairstyles, equipment brands and humor on Twitter, more or less, and in no specific order. Unsurprisingly, I didn’t fare too well during the 2016 Ladies Dream Golf Season. I don’t think I ever made it into the top half of the result list!

This year the Ladies Dream Golf format has changed slightly so that instead of paying per pick, you now pay per package which gives you the right to a certain amount of picks depending on the package you’ve chosen. So I thought I’d give it another go and change my strategy to cater towards more scientific methods. Check last year’s form, look at consistency and then think about it being the season’s first tournament.

The goal: Gaining a higher finish on the leaderboard per tournament than during 2016.

Can’t be that difficult huh?

Cue the first LPGA tournament of the season, the PureSilk Bahamas Classic on Paradise Island. Surely my keen analytic efforts were about to pay off.

Cue my first physical depiction of Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” as my “sure card” Charley Hull missed the cut and eliminated one of my 4 Make-The-Cut chances. Damn it, why didn’t I choose Ariya?!?! Ah well, keep positive, my sturdy and steady Koreans wouldn’t let me down in the “Pick 4” section….

As a trio of Americans tussled for the top spot with not a Korean in sight and Brittany Lincicome covered in shaving foam deservedly lifting the trophy, I sank into the sofa and contemplated my 2017 LDG premiere demise.

Final result on the Ladies Dream Golf leaderboard:  T156/176

Conclusion: Come back Gut Feeling, all is forgiven!

Don’t worry, I’ll be back again filled with enthusiasm for the next tournament. But in the meantime please check out the Ladies Dream Golf website and give it go. You can join and play for free if you want to try it out before taking the plunge. Or you can follow the fun on Twitter @ladiesdreamgolf and Facebook.

Good luck!