Fantasy League picks

With just a few hours to go before the start of our 2008 Fantasy Golf competition, we thought we’d take a look at some of the good picks for the Masters if you don’t fancy blowing most of your budget on Tiger…

Phil Mickelson
He’ll cost you a packet, we know, but Lefty is hitting the ball beautifully right now. We watched him yesterday lay half a dozen towels in a line out on a corner of the range, about 25 yards apart, then try to hit each one with different clubs. Guess what? He did it regularly. If he can just get his putter going this week, as he has in past Masters, he is certainly going to be up there.

Geoff Ogilvy
The man who ended Tiger’s winning streak recently is an in-form player who has deep feelings or this place. “I’m definitely playing better than when I came here last year,” he said. Could become the first Aussie ever to win a Green Jacket.

Ernie Els
Having dropped David Leadbetter and hooked up with Butch Harmon, many are expecting a renaissance from Els this week. He also came to the course a couple of weeks ago and just walked it with a local caddie. He said: “I’ve made a lot of notes this time around, so at least I’ve got a much better idea, more than any other years, where some of the putts are really going now. So I feel a bit more confident of reading the putts in the correct fashion.”

Andres Romero
Yes, it’s his debut, but the big-hitting Argentinian has won recently on the PGA Tour and has been walking around this week like he’s living the dream. He’s a bomber with a great touch on touch greens (remember Carnoustie?), and many are tipping him to do well.

Martin Kaymer
Another rookie, but he’s prepared well – playing practice rounds with Bernhard Langer, and visiting the course a few weeks ago with Nick Faldo’s Masters-winning caddie Fanny Sunesson. Kaymer said: “When we got there she told me that it was best if we just walked round first. She said if I was hitting shots I would be focusing on my swing and not the course. Every hole is special and the greens were so fast even then. On the ninth my first three putts from the back to the front all went off down the fairway.”

Justin Rose
Britain’s best hope? Along with Lee Westwood, definitely. Despite a blow-up on the 17th last year which cost him a chance of victory, Rose has taken a lot of positives from his 2007 finish. He said: “Last year I felt very comfortable and was in the hunt all week, really, from day one. I was on the leaderboard, and I felt comfortable with that situation and enjoyed it. Certainly I think the biggest thing about winning a major is believing you can, and last year was key for me in terms of making that step up.”

Lee Westwood
We followed him around for a few holes yesterday, and he was hitting the ball beautifully. His new, revamped short game seemed to be working too. Riding a wave of confidence right now.

Padraig Harrington
The Open champion says he will be “more relaxed” after his win at Carnoustie last July. “I can look back and use it as a yardstick to judge what preparation is good for me. Having won a major, if I am in contention again I assume that I will feel a little bit more relaxed about it. But I won’t know until I’m in that situation whether it is a bonus having won one major before, but I assume it is.”

Just one day to go until scoring for the Today’s Golfer Fantasy Golf game gets underway – have you got all your friends involved yet!? If not, now’s the time to do it…

Use our Challenge email service to lure them in to your Private League, where up to ten of you could win a Callaway Golf X Tour Wedge, should your league come top of the Private League Championship.

Don’t forget that right up until 13:00 GMT on Thursday, 10th April, you have unlimited transfers available. Visit the website and login to your team screen to make sure you have your selection of golfers exactly as you want it.

If you want some additional hints and tips, why not check out the latest news on the Today’s Golfer Tour News section?

So, the stage is set. A dream trip for two to the Camel Inn Marriott golf resort in Scottsdale, Arizona awaits the winning manager. Will you be toasting your success in the sun or heading back to the driving range come August!?

Good luck!