Texan Scottie Scheffler is heavily favoured to win his first Houston Open after missing out last year by a stroke as Stephen Jaeger lifted the trophy, becoming just the third European to win the time-honoured event.
Key Stats/Skill Set Required
- Strokes Gained: Approach
- Strokes Gained: Tee To Green
- Strokes Gained: Putting
- GIR
- Proximity
- Driving Distance
Memorial Park has been used for the last four editions of the Houston Open and it looks like distance off the tee helps but more critical is a strong approach game and a hot putter on this tough Par 70 course.
Key Correlation Courses/Tournaments
- Riviera
- Silverado Resort & Spa
JJ Spaun has one PGA Tour victory and it came in Texas and he is in a good spot to win his second in the Lone Star State. He has been in super form with two runner-up finishes in his last three starts. He now has four Top 6 finishes this season. He has now contended at Houston but has made the cut all four starts. Ranks 2nd in Strokes Gained: Approach, 7th in Strokes Gained: Tee To Green and 15th in GIR.
Lee Hodges returns to tournament golf after a six-week freshen-up but he was playing super beforehand with five Top 16 finishes in his last nine starts including a T-8 at the Farmers Insurance Open. He is an elite putter who ranks third this season in Strokes Gained: Putting. Finished T-24 at the Genesis last year, a good guide,
Up from the Korn Ferry Tour this season, Steven Fisk has shown flashes. He finished T-4 in Puerto Rico and T-17 in Mexico in his last four starts. Ranks 6th in GIR and 15th in Driving Distance so has a suitable game.
Taylor Montgomery is one of the best putters on the PGA Tour and in this field he leads in strokes gained on Bermuda greens. He ranks 7th overall in Strokes Gained: Putting and 8th in Putting Average. If the flat stick gets hot, this is a tournament he can win at a price.
Frankie Capan III is a talented young prospect up from the Korn Ferry this year. He has not found his feet on the PGA Tour yet but his putting number makes him a contender here. Ranks 4th in Putting Average and 9th in Strokes Gained: Putting.
Get around Jason Day this week as the top of the four Australian players. Day has two Top 13 finishes in his last four starts and has finished Top 16 in two of his four starts at Memorial Park.
Length off the tee is important here and Alejandro Tosti has panels on Grillo, making this a nice head-to-head play.