There is nothing in the world that shows the resiliency of the human spirit more than fantasy golf. It is a test of the will and only sheer determination will aid you in this trial. It separates those who are able to grind their way to the top from those who wither away and fall to the bottom. Such a show of resilience was on full display during the final round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions on Monday.
Round 1 opened with the familiar face of Papa Pilgrim atop the leaderboard followed by a couple newcomers in Rebels, TourBall and BevGin&Tonic. But they would all fade away, one by one, before it was all said and done. Then came another veteran - Freeside Links - who claimed the top spot for himself by the end of round 3 but the pressure proved to be too much for him as well and he also fell back down the board. Some were able to stake a claim towards the top and made valiant efforts all weekend but couldn't muster the courage to make one final charge on Monday. Pro Jock was up for a time, then down, then back up again. Danny Noonan looked like he was going to be a contender but would ignominiously melt away in the 4th. All would try and all would fail…. all, of course, but one.
Chubbs Peterson started round 1 in a dismal tied for 25th after a poor opening round of 36. Many would have counted him out right there but he turned around and shot a brilliant 54 in round 2 to move up to the 20th spot on the big board. Still with the odds against him he clawed his way up the leaderboard in round 3 with another fantastic 54 and put himself in a position for an epic final round charge. And indeed it was. Historians will one day look back on Kapaulua's 4th round and say, “This is the day that Chubbs Peterson made his stand.” It was not even a year ago that Chubbs Peterson, then known by another name, went the entire season, languishing in mediocrity, never winning a single tournament. My how the tables have turned. At the start of round 4 Chubbs gallantly charged into the fray - sending Day, Walker and Reed to mercilessly deliver a broadside against his competition. When the dust settled on the sun soaked landscape at Kapalua it would be Chubbs Peterson who had moved up 10 spots in the 11th hour, garnering bonus points from all three top 3 finishers - a feat that was only accomplished ONCE all last year - and captured his long sought after victory by the slimmest of margins. Certainly a win for the ages. Well done Chubbs Peterson.
The season opener is in the books and there were many teams of note in this dramatic inaugural tournament. Big Easy is another name to watch out for as his out-of-nowhere charge nearly eclipsed that of Chubbs as he shot the 4th round’s best score of 54 but fell short by only 2 points. He takes home a well earned 2nd place finish for his efforts. The Gophers took home a 3rd place finish with an outstanding performance - never dipping below the 9th spot - and earned valuable season points. Can he build on his early success as the winter segment progresses?
Newcomer T-Off-Killah showed plenty of grit through all four rounds as he never left the top 10 once. In his post round interview he stated “I had Reed!” as his elation at picking a winner was palpable. He finished in a respectable 4th and looks to capitalize on his early success as the Winter Segment rolls on.
Joe Flacco was putting on a clinic early on in the tournament but perhaps the team name would mirror events on the football field a little too close. Just as the real life Flacco went off like a firework dislplay against the Pats so too did the fantasy Flacco in the fantasy standings. But both would fizzle out and fall back down to earth in a pile of ash and rubble. At least fantasy Flacco is just beginning his season as real Flacco heads for home.
One interesting story that emerged from the tournament is that of 2 Footer who failed to send a full roster into the field. Someone forgot to tell him that Rory McIlroy was roaming the dunes in Dubai instead of playing in Hawaii last week. But despite missing an A group player and two rounds from his B group he still managed to stay out of dead last and outpaced 3 teams in the end. Quite a fancy trick for the newcomer and one that has earned him the nickname The Wizard.
A big surprise on the day was Kikakee Tees’ huge jump up the leaderboard from 20th to 6th in the final round. Accumulating 30 bonus points from Reed, Day and Henley Kikakee showed that picking a winner and top 3 finishers is a massive advantage. In many tournaments to come winners will be determined by bonus points.
Baby Draw, Ginger Vitis and That’s Wet! all managed to overcome an early handicap as they moved from the bottom half of the leaderboard in round 1 to the top 10 by tournament’s end. To substitute or to not substitute - that is the question. Both Baby and Ginger didn't sub a single player all week while That’s Wet! made some crucial moves when it mattered. A timely substitution, or lack thereof, could mean the difference between fantasy life or death.
It is widely known in Swedish folklore that one does not mess with a Tomte - a Nordic Elf - as their tempers are legendary. Perhaps the less than glamorous 28th place finish by Tomte will be enough to spark her rage for the next tournament. Look for Tomte's revenge and a top 10 at The Sony Open this week.
The race for the Winter Segment Championship is now on and the next stop isn't far from the Kapalua’s Plantation Course. The boys will do a little island hopping as they jump over to Honolulu for the Sony Open. Jimmy Walker is the defending champ there and after a heartbreaking playoff loss to Patty Reed it’ll be interesting to see if he can bounce back. But it’s a long season as the 2015 fantasy golf season is now underway.
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