Shell Houston Open Preview
By David Harrison
Some of golf’s best will be resting up for next weekend’s Masters, while the rest will get in a few more practice rounds beginning Thursday in the Shell Houston Open at the Redstone GC-Tournament Course in Humble, Texas.
Last year on the Tournament Course, Adam Scott ran away with the trophy after shooting 17-under par. That was good enough for a three-stroke win over Stuart Appleby and Bubba Watson, who tied for second at 14-under par. Scott is back this year to defend his title and is one of the Vegas favorites at 10/1.
The overall favorite on the Vegas lines is Phil Mickelson at 5/1. Lefty took last week off and last played in the WGC-CA Championships two weeks ago, where he finished tied for 20th.
Mickelson and Scott aren’t the only highly-ranked golfers among the Houston Open field this week. Also getting in a few competitive rounds before the Masters will be Steve Stricker, K.J. Choi, Geoff Ogilvy, Padraig Harrington and Stewart Cink. Out of those five, Harrington is receiving the best odds at 12/1, while Stricker and Ogilvy both check in at 15/1. Choi finds himself further down the odds list at 20/1. Ernie Els was also supposed to compete in Texas this week, but he had to withdraw due to a virus that has been plaguing him for quite awhile.
Last week in Louisiana, Andres Romero claimed his first career PGA victory at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Romero finished the tournament 13-under to give him a one-stroke victory over Peter Lonard. Romero will be out for his second win this week in Texas, but it’s doubtful he’ll get it at 45/1 on the Vegas odds list.
A definite contender to watch out for this week is Stuart Appleby, whom the oddsmakers have pegged at 15/1. Besides tying for second in this event last year, Appleby has two previous wins on the Tournament Course in 2006 and 1999.
Odds to win Shell Houston Open
Phil Mickelson 5/1
Adam Scott 10/1
Padraig Harrington 12/1
Steve Stricker 15/1
Stuart Appleby 15/1
Geoff Ogilvy 15/1
K.J. Choi 20/1
Aaron Baddeley 25/1
Justin Leonard 25/1
Robert Allenby 25/1
Hunter Mahan 30/1
Angel Cabrera 30/1
Anthony Kim 35/1
Chad Campbell 35/1
Luca Glover 35/1
Jose Maria Olazabal 40/1
Charles Howell III 40/1
Davis Love III 40/1
Bart Bryant 40/1
Trevor Immelman 40/1
Peter Lonard 45/1
Bubba Watson 45/1
Andres Romero 45/1
Nick O’Hern 45/1
John Merrick 45/1
Carl Petterson 50/1
Pat Perez 50/1
Rod Pampling 50/1
Steve Elkington 50/1
Vaughn Taylor 50/1
Field (any other golfer) 7/5
I hate reading these stories and looking out my window to see clouds and whats left of some snow piles.
I am itching to get out on the links like crazy