Fantasy Golf winners 2013
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After 31 weeks of intense competition on the PGA and European Tours, only three points separated the top two managers in the 2013 TG Fantasy Golf game. The final event of the season, the DP World Tour Championship, proved pivotal as Jason Ellis jumped from fourth to claim top spot and a five-night golf holiday at Las Colinas G&CC, Spain.
Ellis, a 40-year-old from Rotherham who plays off 16 at Sitwell Park GC, told TG: “I’m really excited to go away. Sun, beer and golf – I’m really looking forward to it! I’m taking three friends with me because the wife doesn’t play golf.”
The rest of the top five in the final standings also won amazing golf holidays abroad and there were great prizes for the whole top 10 and the Knockout Cup winner. Andy Haynes and Ian Molyneaux jumped into the prizes in the final week. But spare a thought for Dave Sydenham, who headed into the last event in second place. He decided to omit DP World Tour Championship and Race to Dubai champion Henrik Stenson from his team and slid to 11th in the final leaderboard – missing out on a prize by just 14 points.
The final leaderboard and prizes
1. Jason Ellis 2,760 points. Prize: Las Colinas G&CC holiday
2. Richard Curry 2,757 points. Prize: La Manga holiday
3. James Collier 2,732 points. Prize: Quinta da Marinha holiday
4. Kris Dickson 2,698 points. Prize: Monte da Quinta holiday
5. Morris Dow 2,692 points. Prize: Son Caliu holiday
6. Andy Haynes 2,654 points. Prize: Dartmouth G&CC break
7. Ian Molyneaux 2,648 points. Prize: Atlantic Links fourball
8. Ian Holmes 2,636 points. Prize: Atlantic Links fourball
9. Steve Barnes 2,636 points. Prize: Royal & Awesome trousers
10. Adam Jones 2,633 points. Prize: Two Druh belts
Knockout Cup winner: Karl Frail. Prize: SkyCaddie SGXW GPS unit
How Jason Ellis’ gambles came off in TG’s Fantasy Golf game
What was the key to your success in Fantasy Golf 2013?
Remembering to change the team each week, which I haven’t always done previously – and having lots of luck!
You went into the final week in fourth, 23 points off top spot. Did you think you could still win?
It was a double points event so there was plenty to play for still, but I knew I had to select a couple of less obvious picks and get lucky. Victor Dubuisson and Joost Luiten won it for me by finishing 3rd and 4th with no-one else in the top 10 having them. I could easily have totally dropped out of the prizes!
How do you analyse players and pick your team each week?
I check the betting sites for each event, try to pick a few fancied players and then select some lower-valued players who I hope will have a good week.
>> Visit William Hill for current odds on this year’s Fantasy Golf players!
Did you employ any particular strategies when picking your team?
I liked those players who had done well in previous years on the same course, Cabrera in the Masters being an example.
Who were your star performers?
Like most players, I regularly selected Stenson because he was playing well and proved to be undervalued at £1.8 million. I included Jordan Spieth in each tournament he played in because I bet on him to win the John Deere Classic at 33/1, so he quickly became a favourite for me and always seemed to be in the points.
How did you react when you found out you’d won by just three points?
I was on the train coming back from London and watching the final round via the Sky Go app, just hoping my players hung on in. I didn’t have Poulter and when he got second I thought it may have cost me, so it was a relief when the TG Fantasy Golf leaderboard was updated. The previous few weeks had seen me sliding down the table so I thought I may end up missing out on a holiday!
What does playing TG Fantasy Golf add to your experience of watching the Tours?
It definitely adds an interest, especially to those minor tournaments you would normally not follow.
