This is the first ever Rotokingdom Fantasy Golf League Draft. We wanted to do something a bit different than a website like Yahoo! so we implemented a fantasy baseball perspective to it. There are scoring categories to keep in mind while you draft your players. For example, in the Yahoo! league there isn't really a draft and you select a group of players whom you think will have the most success at that particular tournament. In this RK League there are certain categories to consider (fairways hit, greens hit, etc.) so keep that in mind as you read through this article. Also, this is a PGA Tour players draft, so some of the top names you see and hear about on the European Tour may not get drafted.
Round 1:
1.1 Zach Johnson
1.2 Rory Mcilroy
1.3 Steve Stricker
1.4 Jim Furyk
1.5 Tiger Woods
1.6 Sean O'Hair
1.7 Kenny Perry
1.8 Phil Mickelson
1.9 Geoff Ogilvy
1.10 David Toms
Round one was pretty smooth and there were not any surprises there. The only thing you can really argue is that Mcilroy shouldn't have gone so high, and rightfully so as he's yet to do anything on the PGA Tour. Although Mcilroy's won on the European Tour and he's already dipped into the world top 10 before the age of 21. Six out of the first 10 guys drafted have all won at least one major championship. Everyone who was supposed to go in round one did.
Favorite Pick: Sean O'Hair
Least Favorite Pick: Rory Mcilroy
Round 2:
2.1 Hunter Mahan
2.2 Henrik Stenson
2.3 Padraig Harrington
2.4 Justin Leonard
2.5 Nick Watney
2.6 Anthony Kim
2.7 Brian Gay
2.8 Dustin Johnson
2.9 Lee Westwood
2.10 Vijay Singh
Round two was pretty much the same as round one although there are a few more guys who could have waited until round three. I do not see how anyone went before Harrington, who has three major championships. Then again although he's a PGA Tour member, Harrington might not play as much compared to his counterparts this year since it's a Ryder Cup Year. I like Stenson going in this round, just maybe not as high. Westwood, who declined PGA Tour membership for 2010, is an absolute beast and can challenge the world's best. Unfortunately, we'll only see him about eight or nine times this year. Had he been a regular tour member, he probably would've gone in the top three overall.
Favorite Pick: Hunter Mahan
Least Favorite Pick: Nick Watney
Round 3:
3.1 Adam Scott
3.2 Ryo Ishikawa
3.3 Mike Weir
3.4 Paul Casey
3.5 Ernie Els
3.6 Stewart Cink
3.7 Scott Verplank
3.8 Tim Clark
3.9 Reteif Goosen
3.10 Camilo Villegas
Round three started with Scott and rightfully so. Scott had a surprising down year, but IMO he's still a top 20 golfer in the world (currently ranked 34 in the OWGR). Ishikawa is a phenom and dominated the Japan Tour last year, but in comparison he's like Delmon Young in baseball. We're all in wait and see mode with Ishikawa, so I was surprised to see him go so soon. Surprisingly there are four major winners here and they're arguably still in their prime. Ernie Els was drafted late, I know he didn't win last year for the first time in ages, but he's the most consistent golfer next to Tiger Woods. He could've been the second overall pick and I don't think anyone would've been surprised. I was also surprised to see Scott Verplank off the boards so soon, but he's a pretty solid golfer all the way around with the exception of his win total over the past three years.
Favorite Pick: Adam Scott
Least Favorite Pick: Scott Verplank
Round 4:
4.1 Sergio Garcia
4.2 Luke Donald
4.3 Lucas Glover
4.4 KJ Choi
4.5 Ryan Moore
4.6 Brandt Snedeker
4.7 Robert Allenby
4.8 Kevin Na
4.9 Rory Sabbatini
4.10 Steve Marino
The first three names off the board were arguably bigger than the final seven combined. Sergio could've gone in round three, but he struggled heavily last year compared to 2008. Luke Donald has always been really steady and finished strong after he got over his wrist injury and of course Lucas Glover won the U.S. Open. After those three guys it's a toss up as to who could've gone when, as all are deserving. The most well rounded player is Kevin Na and he should improve on his 2009 campaign in the upcoming season.
Favorite Pick: Kevin Na
Least Favorite Pick: Brandt Snedeker
Round 5:
5.1 John Senden
5.2 Pat Perez
5.3 Charles Howell III
5.4 Ian Poulter
5.5 Chad Campbell
5.6 Ben Curtis
5.7 Justin Rose
5.8 Matt Kuchar
5.9 Stephen Ames
5.10 Heath Slocum
The best all around player to leave the board this round was the Canadian Stephen Ames. The once promising England native Rose was a surprise to go this early (yes, I said early). I'm surpised guys like Snedeker, Choi, and even Verplank from round three went before Poulter. The guy can flat out putt and if you follow golf, you know that you have to putt to be successful. Judging by his twitter account, he's gearing up for a big year. Ben Curtis has a major championship, but that's about all he has done. I like seeing Perez and Kuchar in this round. Both golfers have loads of potential and will probably surprise a few people along the way.
Favorite Pick: Pat Perez
Least Favorite Pick: Justin Rose
Round 6:
6.1 Bo Van Pelt
6.2 Boo Weekley
6.3 Ross Fisher
6.4 Rod Pampling
6.5 Jason Day
6.6 DJ Trahan
6.7 Micheal Sim
6.8 Mark Wilson
6.9 Angel Cabrera
6.10 Y.E. Yang
Ross Fisher, who's in the world top 20 looks like a man among boys here, but unfortunately like Westwood, he doesn't play on tour here, but he'll be a factor in the majors and WGC's. Weekley is arguably the most well rounded golfer out of this group although he struggled last year. I like the rookie Sim who basically dominated the AAA of the PGA Tour (Nationwide Tour). The last two picks I absolutely hate, although they have three major championships between them. I would still like to see what Yang can do this year, but I've never been a fan of Cabrera because he's about as sloppy as they come. Cabrera can't hit fairways, he can't hit greens, and he can't putt with any consistency... but to his credit he somehow has two major championships.
Favorite Pick: Micheal Sim
Least Favorite Pick: Angel Cabrera
Round 7:
7.1 Jerry Kelly
7.2 Paul Goydos
7.3 Jeev Milka Singh
7.4 John Rollins
7.5 Stuart Appleby
7.6 Rickie Fowler
7.7 JB Holmes
7.8 Matthew Goggin
7.9 Kevin Sutherland
7.10 Jason Dufner
For me this round was all about who could finish strong with their pick. Jeev Milka Singh might be the most underrated golfer on the planet. I really liked the Rollins pick as well as the rookie Fowler. Appleby has really struggled in recent years, but he's the type of proven veteran who could get it turned around quickly with a good year. Googin is another Aussie who could make some noise and prove he's worth a late round pick this year.
Favorite Pick: John Rollins
Least Favorite Pick: JB Holmes
- Julian Thompson - RotoKingdom Staff Writer
Julian Thompson, aka Shadowboy0387, is a former collegiate baseball player and golfer out of Adrian College in Michigan. He loves his Atlanta Falcons, Braves, Detroit Tigers and Pistons. He's also been growing fond of the Washington Redskins over the past 3-4 years. While studying journalism for two years, he was also a sports writer for the Daily Telegram in Adrian, MI as well as his school paper. He's extremely knowledgeable and passionate about sports in general, but zones in on the ins and outs of golf on the PGA and European Tour. He'll personalize the sport of golf for you by giving you his stories, opinions, and insights on golfers and tournaments. A current member on the AGA Tour in Atlanta, Shadow is a 6 handicap and plays out of Berkeley Hills Country Club where Stewart Cink, the current Open Champion, plays frequently. Shadow has been with RotoKingdom since the start and has always brought great insight in different sections, but what he'll be known for is the foundation of the new golf section. One can only assume that his passion for golf will draw in more interest from around the RK community.