GOLF:

While fantasy leagues for other sports are extremely popular, golf doesn’t seem to fit very well for this pastime for hard-core fans of the sport.

I played in a golf league last year and it wasn’t nearly as thrilling as other sports as I have participated in the past. Football, baseball, basketball and hockey, you can make moves and it keeps you more involved in the sport.

The golf league I was in we picked 12 players and used their weekly finishes to accumulate points. There wasn’t much of a thrill to it. Plus if one of your guys got hurt or wasn’t playing well you were stuck with him.

The PGA of America has come up with a contest that might break up the monotony of golf fantasy leagues.

It is called the Majors Fantasy Challenge and centers around golf’s four major championships and the PGA Grand Slam. The PGA hosts the PGA Grand Slam every year and the winner of this contest and a guest will get to go see that tournament in Bermuda in 2010. This game allows fans to select major champions and top performers beginning with the next week’s Masters and followed by the U.S. Open (June 18-21), Open Championship (July 16-19), PGA Championship (August 13-16) and the PGA Grand Slam of Golf (October 20-21).

“While the PGA Grand Slam of Golf is one of the toughest tournaments in the world to qualify for, everyone has an opportunity to experience it first-hand through the Majors Fantasy Challenge,” said David Charles, PGA Senior Director of Championships. “There are four major championships in the world of golf and fans now have the opportunity to experience the excitement of the majors through the Majors Fantasy Challenge with the ultimate reward being a trip to the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.”

The contest is simple, which is another attraction I thought was nice, though finding it on the website was a bit tricky. When you go to www.pga.com, go to the play section and then click on contests and promotions.

You will have to sign up for the contest and then it takes you to the contest. Once there you get four columns of players and you pick one from each column. Then there is a tie breaker golfer you choose.

The game format, which is pick ‘em style, allows fans to pick a foursome who they believe will finish the highest in that respective major, based upon tournament money winnings. Golfers are selected before the start time of each major championship. Scoring is based upon tournament money winnings. Participants can enter prior to any major, but they will only begin earning points from the time they register to play.

After each major the standings get updated and the top 10 players get a prize. Prizes for each event are: Masters – PGA Grand Slam of Golf shirt; U.S. Open – PGA Grand Slam of Golf hat; British Open – One dozen PGA Grand Slam of Golf; PGA Championship – PGA Grand Slam of Golf shirt/hat combo; and PGA Grand Slam of Golf – PGA Grand Slam of Golf Vineyard Vines Beach Bag.

The winner of the Grand Prize will be announced after the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. The Grand Prize is a prize package for two to the 2010 PGA Grand Slam of Golf, including airfare, transportation and hotel.

I have signed up for the contest and am extending a challenge to local golfers to do so as well.

My login name is DailyPilotgolfcolumnist and you can monitor my progress.

Good luck to anyone who plays.

JOHN REGER’S golf column appears Thursdays. He may be reached by e-mail at [email protected], or by regular mail at P.O. Box 2984, Seal Beach, CA 90740.