Shell Houston Open, Thursday Apr 2 - Sunday Apr 5, 2015 • Purse: $6,600,000 • Winning Share: $1,188,000 • GC of Houston • Humble, Texas Fa...
Shell Houston Open, Thursday Apr 2 - Sunday Apr 5, 2015 • Purse: $6,600,000 • Winning Share: $1,188,000 • GC of Houston • Humble, Texas
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Jordan Spieth at 9/1 is flying high having added a solo second in San Antonio to his Valspar win. Let’s hope he can keep his form running through to the Masters but first it’s another dress rehearsal in Houston this week in Humble on a course set up to mirror Augusta National. Follow @golfcentraldoc
Doc’s Top 5 To Watch. Erm... 4 now actually!
JB Holmes 28/1
A minor blot on the copybook at the Arnold Palmer Invitational where JB missed the cut but there’s so many gold stars from The Farmers (T2), Pebble (T10, Northern Turst (T22) and WGC Caddy (2nd) that he’s impossible to ignore in Houston. Since losing out in a playoff to Paul Casey in 2009, Holmes has been back to the Golf Club Of Houston three times with a T4 in 2011, T8 in 2012 and T12 last season. Always drives and putts the ball well here.
Louis Oosthuizen 35/1
Two missed cuts from his last five appearances in Houston but solid otherwise and had a solo third in 2012, albeit after a nightmare final round. That was the year he battled Bubba at The Masters and I’ve every faith that Louis will be in top form over the next two weeks. Yes he missed the cut at Innisbrook, but taking the 2015 season as a whole, Louis has four top-10’s from six starts, and a T14 besides at the WGC HSBC. Tied 9th last time out at Bay Hill. Watch his form this week, and if it encourages you, he’s still a good 60/1 each way for The Masters.
Sergio Garcia 33/1
Added Houston to schedule in 2014 and finished solo third after an exhibition with the putter. So he’s back again and lightly raced having flattered at Riviera (T4) only to deceive at The Honda (T31) and WGC Cadillac (T31). If you study shotlink history in Houston, it becomes immediately obvious that Greens in Regulation is the key stat here. Traditionally that is Sergio’s strength, and with these odds, he’s worth a quid each way.
Shawn Stefani 70/1
Came close to a win at The Mayakoba Classic and Stefani goes quietly about his business making money most weeks on Tour. T17 at The Valspar was followed by a T21 at Arnie’s event and a T26 in Texas, which impressed me most given that he started with a 79. Fifth last year thanks to a standout 13 under on just the par-5’s and an excellent clip of 4th in greens in regulation. If Shawn manages his game well this week, he’s a super each way bet. No doubt!
Henrik Stenson 10/1 (Withdrew)
Some players that have Masters places will come to Houston this week and just potter around; I don’t think Henrik will be among them. Has two podiums from his last four starts in Houston with a T3 in 2009 and T2 in 2013 when DA Points pipped him. Fantastic on the PGA Tour to date this season with a T4 at Doral, 4th at Innisbrook and second at Bay Hill. A win is coming, this week or next; I don’t mind telling you that Henrik will be in my Masters top-five also.
Favourite
Jordan Spieth at 9/1 is flying high having added a solo second in San Antonio to his Valspar win. Let’s hope he can keep his form running through to the Masters but first it’s another dress rehearsal in Houston this week in Humble on a course set up to mirror Augusta National. Follow @golfcentraldoc
Doc’s Top 5 To Watch. Erm... 4 now actually!
JB Holmes 28/1
A minor blot on the copybook at the Arnold Palmer Invitational where JB missed the cut but there’s so many gold stars from The Farmers (T2), Pebble (T10, Northern Turst (T22) and WGC Caddy (2nd) that he’s impossible to ignore in Houston. Since losing out in a playoff to Paul Casey in 2009, Holmes has been back to the Golf Club Of Houston three times with a T4 in 2011, T8 in 2012 and T12 last season. Always drives and putts the ball well here.
Two missed cuts from his last five appearances in Houston but solid otherwise and had a solo third in 2012, albeit after a nightmare final round. That was the year he battled Bubba at The Masters and I’ve every faith that Louis will be in top form over the next two weeks. Yes he missed the cut at Innisbrook, but taking the 2015 season as a whole, Louis has four top-10’s from six starts, and a T14 besides at the WGC HSBC. Tied 9th last time out at Bay Hill. Watch his form this week, and if it encourages you, he’s still a good 60/1 each way for The Masters.
Sergio Garcia 33/1
Added Houston to schedule in 2014 and finished solo third after an exhibition with the putter. So he’s back again and lightly raced having flattered at Riviera (T4) only to deceive at The Honda (T31) and WGC Cadillac (T31). If you study shotlink history in Houston, it becomes immediately obvious that Greens in Regulation is the key stat here. Traditionally that is Sergio’s strength, and with these odds, he’s worth a quid each way.
Shawn Stefani 70/1
Came close to a win at The Mayakoba Classic and Stefani goes quietly about his business making money most weeks on Tour. T17 at The Valspar was followed by a T21 at Arnie’s event and a T26 in Texas, which impressed me most given that he started with a 79. Fifth last year thanks to a standout 13 under on just the par-5’s and an excellent clip of 4th in greens in regulation. If Shawn manages his game well this week, he’s a super each way bet. No doubt!
Henrik Stenson 10/1 (Withdrew)
Some players that have Masters places will come to Houston this week and just potter around; I don’t think Henrik will be among them. Has two podiums from his last four starts in Houston with a T3 in 2009 and T2 in 2013 when DA Points pipped him. Fantastic on the PGA Tour to date this season with a T4 at Doral, 4th at Innisbrook and second at Bay Hill. A win is coming, this week or next; I don’t mind telling you that Henrik will be in my Masters top-five also.
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