The 2010 World Cup kicks off in South Africa in just over a month, but that does not mean it is too early to start scouting and preparing for the fantasy World Cup season.

The World Cup has grown in popularity in the United States in the last couple of decades, and with that growth, comes a rise in fantasy games revolving around the tournament. The most common game you will see is a the completion of a second round bracket, that is exactly likely filling out a March Madness bracket. In addition, some games will have a combined first and second bracket that is guaranteed to frustrate you when the soccer equivalent of Butler University emerges in this year’s World Cup.

Serious fantasy World Cup players will enter leagues that have them picking players to use throughout the tournament. This can be incredibly challenging since half the player pool is eliminated after three games.

Here is a mix of fantasy World Cup games that you can check out:

• World Cup Pool – This pool is dedicated to simply hosting World Cup pools. The game featured on the site covers both rounds of the tournament and teams score points based on how well fantasy players are able to predict who wins, loses, or ties. Players can compete in the site-wide contest or just a private sub-league amongst friends. Over 22,000 players have signed up to play on this site with a month still to go. Do not be surprised to see that number swell quickly the closer we get to the World Cup. The site is also available in 14 languages which makes this a truly international site for the world’s most popular event.
• ESPN Soccernet’s Bracket Predictor – This free World Cup bracket game offers a swanky prize of $5,000 to the winner. All you have to do is predict the two teams from each group to advance and then complete your bracket. In addition to competing against all entrants across the site, you have the ability to compete just against family and friends.
• McDonald’s FIFA World Cup Fantasy – The official fantasy world cup site by the organization responsible for putting on the World Cup every four years. As publication, this site has not been updated with a game for the 2010 Cup, as it hosted a fantasy game leading up to the World Cup. But, do not be surprised to something appear here in the very near future.

Those are just a few of the places that you can check out a fantasy World Cup league. Check Fantasy Ethos regularly for new fantasy World Cup news as it happens.

If you know of any other leagues, please feel to comment in the comments section.

While everyone has been talking about Tiger Woods way more than they ever did during the golf off-season, I would like to remind you that the start of the golf season is less than a month away. This also means that the fantasy golf season is just around the corner.

Personal observation: Smaller sites tend to do a better job with fantasy golf. This is a function of the fact that smaller sites dedicated to fantasy golf really care about fantasy golf. Whereas, in the case of a larger fantasy company that has many games, fantasy golf is just a drop in the bucket, and is not nearly as important to the company as other fantasy games. With that being said, when picking a game, do your homework, be careful, email in questions, use message boards, and/or ask around.

I know you must be dying to get your virtual driver going and get onto the fantasy fairway with 2010 fantasy golf. With that in mind, I have compiled the details about a number of fantasy golf sites for your inspection. If you have any thoughts on any of these sites, please feel free to add them in the comments section. Also, I would like to Colin Robertson for contributing on a number of these evaluations:

Pro Tour Fantasy Golf

• Format: Pick three golfers each week. Score points based on their earnings for the week.
• Substitutes: Switch out one golfer after the second round and/or use one of your six mulligans to switch out another golfer before the final round.
• Selection: Set a new lineup each week. Can only use a golfer twice during the season or three times if you use a mulligan.
• Good points: Low number of players (capped at 125) so good chance of winning a prize; scores updated quickly; sends multiple line up reminders and (brief) weekly newsletter; able to change line up during tournament; mulligans feature; offers section prizes so always something to play for; Great reputation for customer service and prompt prize payout.
• Bad points: Only US tour so not a lot of UK or European interest in the game.
• Expected Start Date: Multiple start dates, from January through April
• Full disclosure: When I play fantasy golf, this is where I play.

Yahoo Fantasy Golf

• Format: Select a team of eight golfers each week, with four scoring points on a daily basis based on 18 hole scores.
• Substitutes: Able to change players between rounds (by 10.00am UK time).
• Selection: Only able to pick a player on 10 occasions during the season.
• Good points: Free entry (not sure you want to read that!), send line up reminder, good website, allows multiple mini leagues.
• Bad points: Poor prizes, have to alter teams continuously during a tournament, no auto-sub if you are away.
• Expected Start Date: January 2010

The Scotsman Fantasy Golf

• Format: Select a team of twelve golfers each week, with all scoring points based on 72 hole scores.
• Substitutes: Able to change two (three for majors) players between weeks.
• Selection: No limit.
• Good points: Free entry; reasonable prizes for a free league, allows multiple mini leagues.
• Bad points: Most weeks will not have a full line up, no opportunity to change during tournament, funny bonus captain system (where you are unable to change from Tiger Woods as you can’t bench him), poor website.
• Expected Start Date: March 2010

Official Fantasy League Golf

• Format: Select a team of twelve golfers each week, with six scoring points based on 72 hole scores.
• Substitutes: Able to change three players between weeks.
• Selection: 25 changes per season.
• Good points: Most popular UK fantasy golf game; scores updated quickly; spin off mini tournaments; sends line up reminders and detailed weekly newsletter.
• Bad points: No opportunity to change during tournament; restrictions of number of players per continent; doesn’t start until Masters.
• Expected Start Date: March 2010

PGA Fantasy

• Format: For Major tournaments only, pick four golfer for your team. Score points based on their earnings for the week, and double points for your top pick.
• Substitutes: None.
• Selection: Set a new lineup for each tournament.
• Good points: free to play; top prizes has been a trip for two to a following year’s masters; limiting to Majors ensures selection from top players,
• Bad points: May be too infrequent to engage players;
• Expected Start Date: March 2010.

Additionally, there may be fantasy golf leagues at Sporting News Fantasy Golf, CBS Sports Fantasy Golf, and/or Fanball Fantasy Golf that you may want to check out.