Houston Open

We return to Houston in its pre Masters slot but this time we move to a new track at Memorial Park. Tom Doak has undertaken a redesign of this track in the past year or two with the help of some pga tour pros most notably Brooks Kopeka. Koepka has said it's been one of the most exciting projects he has undertaken outside of playing the game. Doak designed the Renaissance track in North Berwick which hosted the 2019 Scottish Open on the European Tour. Wiesberger won that week but what was most notable was that it was a second shot golf course with the first two home finishing 2nd and 3rd in strokes gained approach that week. Doak has said that he has chopped down plenty of trees and wanted to make the greens a little trickier to approach. He mentioned longer, narrower greens so that if you miss either side you'll have a tough job getting up and down.

Generally speaking the week before majors favourites can be taken on. After 6 weeks off and a positive test for the virus Dustin Johnson takes to the pitch in an attempt to shake off any rust before the Masters next week. With some course reports saying the rough is thick and greens firm it could suit the world number one. The time off is a negative though and I'm sure he'll be tweaking the odd aspect of his swing in preparation for next week so he is easily passed over. Tyrrell Hatton arrives in fine form and attempts to become the third English winner of this event in the last eleven years. He is worthy of consideration and maybe doesn't quite look right at more than double the price of the favourite.

Viktor Hovland at 25/1 (8 places)

The removal of plenty of bunkers will surely be music to the ears of Victor Hovland and the Norwegian can make hay on a track that should suit. Last time out at the Zozo he had a horror show on the greens almost equalling his worst week on the tour with the flat stick. We are sure to see improvement there and a solid tee to green game has always been his strong suit. Around the greens lie the problem and there is talk of shaved run offs and tricky shots should you miss the greens. Hitting greens was important at Muirfield Village and he did well there on week one finishing 3rd. His super approach play should see him in trouble around the greens less often than the rest and hopefully he sees enough of an upturn on the greens to contend. He is one of the classier players in the field who will need no invitation to be motivated despite the major on the horizon.

2pts each-way V.Hovland 25/1 (1/5 8)

Viktor Hovland - 2pts e/w @ 25/1

Matthew NeSmith at 125/1 (8 places)

Matthew NeSmith rates as one of the best each way bets in the field given his credentials for a place like this. He hits greens for fun lying second in GIR for this current season, and finishing 22nd last season in the same department. He has recorded only one negative tournament in strokes gained approach in his last 14. This course should play to that strength and he could be a factor at big odds. Recently his stats have been off the charts with a 8th placed finish at the Shriners and 17th at the Sanderson Farms. These last two events suggest he has found something and could be on the verge of a breakthrough. 125/1 is plenty to chew on.

1.5pts each-way M.NeSmith 125/1 (1/5 8)

Matthew NeSmith - 1.5pts e/w @ 125/1

Corey Conners at 55/1 (7 places)

I had hoped of a bigger price this week about Corey Conners but the 50/1 is just about enough to get involved. Two weeks back the Canadian agonisingly bogeyed the 72nd to slip out of a place for us but he should go well again on a course that should suit. The rough up will heighten his chances once again being one of the more solid tee to green players in the field. He is another plagued with putting problems but we have saw an upturn on that side with three of his last four events gaining strokes on the field on the greens. He doesn't look too far off adding to his Texas win last year and although I'd have liked a bigger price I'm happy to back around 50/1.

1.25pts each-way C.Conners 55/1 (1/5 7)

Corey Conners - 1.25pts e/w @ 55/1

Doc Redman at 50/1 (7 places)

Doc Redman has impressed hugely of late and is another who looks a solid play around the 50/1 mark. The American is embarking on his second full season on the tour and has made waves in the past couple of months. Three top 5 finishes in his last six events is a sure sign he can't be too far away from landing that big win. The week before a major is always an opportunity. Redman is another who excels from tee to green and I'm hoping the amount of greens he hits offsets the disadvantage he will face against the field when missing them. Will surely get a win sooner or later, and with the jollies with one eye on next week he could capitalise upon his solid form.

1pt each-way D.Redman  50/1  (1/5 7)

Doc Redman - 1pt e/w @ 50/1

Emiliano Grillo at 80/1 (7 places)

Emiliano Grillo founds something with the putter at the Shriners and is worth chancing around the 80/1 mark. The Argentine has struggled for a long time with the flat stick but finally got something going at the Shriners gaining over 3 strokes on the greens. That was only his second positive outcome on the greens since February and should he continue with his solid long game figures he could feature over the weekend. He has produced some very solid long game figures over the past few months so it may just be that we were waiting for the putter to heat up. Unfortunately for him whenever it did heat up at the Shriners, his long game deserted him. I'm backing in the hope that the two marry this week.

1pt each-way E.Grillo 80/1 (1/5 7)

Emiliano Grillo - 1pt e/w @ 80/1