molafson - I tried and tried to come up with a graceful way of mentioning Fuzzy in the post, but ultimately abandoned it. Thanks for bringing him up. I have come up with a baseball analogy. Phil would be the sabermetrician's choice to win because statistically he puts himself in a position to win frequently. But he has no heart, and he has no guts. He is a choker, plain and simple. He will not perform under the ultimate pressure. If he wins, you won't hear from me for awhile, because I'll eat my home pc, work pc, and laptop, and wash it down with the same alcohol I've been drinking tonight.
I'll eat every PC in my office if Mickleson wins... hell, I'll eat the office itself! He has no chance. Betting on golf is even more of a mug's game than betting on anything else, but that's not going to stop me dropping in at the bookies' at lunchtime to throw a few pounds away. My dad is there (at Augusta, not the bookies'), and last night reported back to the effect that both Clarke and Harrington are looking very good - but then, my dad is the treasurer of the Irish golf union, so perhaps not the man to ask for an impartial observation on that front. That said, I find odds of 33-1 on Clarke quite generous. I also like the look of a couple of older players: 100-1 odds on Jose Maria to roll back the years - that's got to be worth a fiver each way of anyone's money - he had a good first round last week, proving... well, nothing, but suggesting that he might be able to string something together; and O'Meara, at the same price, with a win under his belt this year already, might be worth a flutter. I would back Harrington to finish in the top four, but not with my wallet (I'd need more tempting odds than 20-1). One name that jumped out at me on an initial inspection of the field was corpse's suggestion - Kenny Perry. I have a really irrational and totally unfounded dislike for the guy (Kenny Perry, not corpse), but, at 40-1, he might be worth a sneaky fiver too. My final choices are not yet made. I'll report back this afternoon with my betting slip in hand!
ufez: From the menu: and British Columbia mushrooms Duuuuuuuuude. Kind. Is Ross Rebagliati going to be there? OK, Masters picks: Padraig Harrington, David Toms (sleeper; recovered fully?), Tiger Woods (T-5 at least), Chris DiMarco, Stuart Appleby. I'm going with guys hit do well in ball-striking. Straight drives will roll a long way in firm, fast conditions, and accurate irons will set up more makeable putts (and 2-putts). Experience at Augusta counts, and these guys have at least a few years each. Whoever puts the ball in the right places and pours it in will win.
I'm picking Ernie Els at 11 to 1.
I think the makeup on Tiger will have an amazingly positive effect on his stroke.
Not to be a knob, but I checked out rcade's link ... is it legal to use those services from U.S. soil?
(how would checking out the link and asking that question enter the realm of knobdom? just wondering.) I'll go with Clarke. (and hey, Yahoo offers a Golf fantasy pool. about two months too late for the start but if there is such interest in golf around here it might be something to think about for next year or rush into it for this year.)
I want to know what kind of culinary boob wants to eat sushi and sashimi as appetizers followed by steak and chicken fajitas? Mr. O'Meara, please don't start your own restaurant!
In the end I've put my money on Harrington (despite my protestations that his odds weren't long enough at 20-1, and the fact that he'd come in to 16's by the time I put the bet on, and that he has now gone and won the par three tournament, thus rendering himself jinxed), and Kenny Perry, who had drifted out to 50-1 by the time I put my bets on. Hope you all enjoy the tournament - it's Easter, so I won't be back on this acursed machine until Tuesday. Good luck to those who've gambled. Shame on those who haven't.
Parting thought: If you won the Masters, what would be on the menu for your champion's dinner? I'd go with Heinz Tomato Soup to begin, followed by shoulder of lamb and rounded off with a vanilla creme brulee. And port. And a cigar. And then I'd get pissed and ask Jack for his autograph. And maybe punch a waiter.
I'd go for downhome barbecue. Pulled pork, ribs, smoked meats, cornbread, potato salad, lemon cake, hot links, beer. But I've only broken 100 once, so I don't like my chances. Let's get it on!
Scrapple and eggs.
What's scrapple? (Vito - it's maybe just as well your chances aren't good - I don't know that many of the guts at the champions' dinner would profit from that menu)
oooo - I found out on my own. Look!
and not just any old scrapple, it has to be Rapa Scrapple
Never trust a website where they show you a picture of the label rather than the product.
I didn't know scrapple was marketed. It was always my impression that it was the remnants scraped off the grill from the days cooking. So you're getting anything from eggs, hash browns, bacon, etc.
rolled personal 'party favors'. perogies and poutine. and bacon. piles of bacon. a shot or two of moonshine. and lemon merangue pie.
Pulled pork Man, that just never sounds right. My menu would be a big bag of Funions, then fried bologna and cheese sandwiches with a kosher dill and a cold mug o' Bud Light. For dessert? Fried Mars bars, baby.
wfrazerjr, that just might be the most unhealthy meal possible.
*spoiler alert* Tiger's at +4 through 10 holes.
wfrazerjr, I'd completely forgotten about the links in that thread. And now I remember why.
lilnemo, I of course had to go revisit the Harding fantasy site. Not surprisingly, the level of the spelling and the grammar is too low to be believed. Creepy.
Mmm, pulled pork at Armadillo Willy's!
