PGA First Look: Houston Open

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2018-03-29 14:41:25

The PGA First Look is complete with a course preview, odds, salaries, Official World Golf Rankings, and course history.

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Event Preview

The WGC Match Play was fun to watch for a few days and the Puntacana Corales Championship was profitable, but I’m ready to get back to the full-field, shot tracker events. We only have one week before the Masters and the Houston Open serves as a nice warm-up for those in the field. It’s far from a copy of Augusta National, but there are certainly some similarities. We have a strong field with names like Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, and Justin Rose headlining the tournament.

The Golf Club of Houston is a Par 72 that measures over 7,400 yards. The yardage is similar to that of Augusta National and this course also features four par fives. The greens have similarities as well, as this course features Bermuda greens over-seeded with Bentgrass that are lightning fast. They typically measure around 12.5 to 13 on the stimpmeter. The course also has closely-mown run-offs around the green, which capture errant approach shots.

Now, the course doesn’t exactly play like Augusta National. There are more water hazards (nine) and with this event being in Texas, there is typically more wind than in Georgia. The fairways here tend to narrow at around 325 yards, which will force many golfers to club down off the tee. It’s also worth noting that this course is one of the toughest to scramble at every single year. Strangely enough, it’s one of the easiest when it comes to putting inside of ten feet.

I’m not going to complicate my selection process this week. I will be focusing on strong ball strikers that can make birdies and score on the par fives. It’s always an interesting debate on whether or not to play the studs the week before a major. Many of the golfers that have already qualified for the Masters will treat this as a tune-up, while golfers that have yet to qualify might have a little more motivation. Golfers like Charles Howell, Luke List, Steve Stricker, and Brandt Snedeker all need to win this week to punch their ticket to Augusta.

Cut Rule:Top 70 and ties after the first two rounds. The MDF rule is in effect if more than 78 golfers make the initial cut.

Recent Winners of this Event:Russell Henley (2017), Jim Herman (2016), J.B. Holmes (2015), Matt Jones (2014), D.A. Points (2013)

Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)

1) Strokes Gained Approach
2) Birdie or Better %
3) Par 5 Scoring
4) Strokes Gained off the Tee
5) Strokes Gained Around the Green

Hole by Hole Breakdown

Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2013-2017)

Golfer	DK Salary	FD Salary	FDRFT Salary	OWGR	Odds	DK Odds	FD Odds	FDRFT Odds	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013
Rickie Fowler	$11,500	$12,000	$17,200	8	11	-100%	50%	0%	3	10	71	6	500
Justin Rose	$11,400	$12,600	$17,400	5	10	50%	0%	0%	15	500	37	500	500
Jordan Spieth	$11,100	$12,100	$17,000	4	12	0%	0%	0%	99	13	2	77	50
Henrik Stenson	$10,500	$11,900	$16,600	15	13	-25%	0%	-25%	121	2	500	54	2
Phil Mickelson	$10,200	$12,400	$16,400	18	12	20%	-100%	20%	55	13	17	12	16
Luke List	$9,600	$9,900	$15,700	67	26	-33%	50%	-14%	3	27	500	500	117
Daniel Berger	$9,400	$11,000	$15,800	37	23	14%	33%	0%	5	5	25	500	500
Rafael Cabrera-Bello	$9,300	$11,500	$15,600	22	29	-25%	-67%	-25%	121	4	500	500	500
Russell Henley	$9,200	$10,200	$15,400	56	26	22%	46%	30%	1	5	4	7	45
Matt Kuchar	$9,100	$11,200	$15,300	20	34	-10%	-38%	0%	130	500	70	2	500
Tony Finau	$9,000	$11,300	$15,500	34	28	18%	-29%	0%	34	82	42	500	500
Charles Howell	$8,900	$10,300	$14,800	60	43	-17%	-17%	0%	39	7	5	123	10
Steve Stricker	$8,800	$9,600	$14,900	128	41	0%	28%	0%	500	95	500	24	38
Byeong-Hun An	$8,700	$9,500	$15,100	83	40	14%	40%	0%	500	500	500	500	500
Keegan Bradley	$8,600	$9,600	$14,300	70	52	-13%	6%	0%	15	113	5	43	10
Emiliano Grillo	$8,500	$9,000	$14,300	75	54	-25%	38%	-18%	500	500	500	500	500
Shubhankar Sharma	$8,400	$9,500	$13,900	68	67	-47%	-25%	-9%	500	500	500	500	500
Jason Dufner	$8,300	$10,500	$14,400	49	51	17%	-36%	6%	12	500	500	500	500
Bud Cauley	$8,200	$8,700	$13,700	123	78	-58%	25%	-15%	99	500	500	500	16
Patrick Rodgers	$8,100	$8,900	$13,500	131	74	-35%	23%	10%	500	82	500	500	500
Brandt Snedeker	$8,000	$10,800	$13,800	76	65	-14%	-140%	4%	500	500	500	500	78
Bill Haas	$7,900	$10,000	$13,600	74	75	-27%	-87%	0%	500	500	72	37	10
Ryan Palmer	$7,900	$9,300	$13,400	106	78	-41%	-29%	6%	82	38	500	7	78
Brice Garnett	$7,800	$8,400	$13,100	125	86	-63%	19%	0%	500	500	87	7	500
Chesson Hadley	$7,700	$8,800	$12,500	73	99	-76%	-19%	14%	500	38	50	500	500
Seungsu Han	$7,700	$7,700	$13,000	82	99	-80%	33%	-13%	500	500	500	500	500
Corey Conners	$7,600	$8,600	$12,500	478	104	-81%	-14%	4%	500	500	500	500	500
Scott Piercy	$7,500	$9,300	$13,200	137	83	-25%	-46%	5%	500	19	10	500	500
Chris Kirk	$7,500	$9,000	$14,100	152	57	25%	34%	0%	500	500	500	65	22
Peter Uihlein	$7,500	$8,500	$13,000	62	88	-46%	9%	-3%	23	500	500	108	500
Thomas Pieters	$7,500	$10,100	$14,600	45	51	43%	-14%	-7%	500	500	500	500	500
Lucas Glover	$7,400	$8,300	$12,700	94	102	-44%	10%	0%	82	57	500	91	146
Kelly Kraft	$7,400	$8,200	$13,200	157	83	-16%	31%	0%	135	500	500	500	50
William McGirt	$7,400	$9,200	$12,800	117	107	-56%	-85%	-14%	500	106	500	500	127
Dylan Frittelli	$7,400		$14,200	47	65	28%		-21%	500	500	500	500	500
Aaron Wise	$7,400	$8,200	$12,600	195	113	-66%	2%	-10%	500	500	500	500	500
Rory Sabbatini	$7,400	$8,500	$12,700	191	107	-59%	-13%	-11%	500	500	500	500	500
Tom Lovelady	$7,400	$7,600	$11,900	251	166	-109%	9%	-6%	500	500	500	500	500
J.B. Holmes	$7,300	$9,100	$14,100	92	62	44%	27%	-5%	110	500	1	12	500
Chez Reavie	$7,300	$9,400	$13,900	48	53	51%	14%	17%	82	7	37	500	31
Matt Jones	$7,300	$7,700	$11,800	275	163	-69%	1%	1%	49	95	109	1	38
Jhonattan Vegas	$7,300	$8,700	$13,000	52	83	8%	10%	10%	15	19	55	72	500
Harris English	$7,300	$8,400	$13,500	196	80	18%	33%	-7%	61	57	500	500	50
Jason Kokrak	$7,300	$9,300	$13,700	112	68	33%	-8%	0%	71	68	72	91	9
Jamie Lovemark	$7,300	$9,800	$14,200	91	53	54%	-6%	5%	71	18	500	138	500
Cheng-Tsung Pan	$7,300	$7,600	$12,000	180	157	-59%	16%	0%	82	500	500	500	500
Kevin Tway	$7,300	$7,600	$11,800	223	169	-74%	8%	-1%	500	500	500	500	500
Russell Knox	$7,300	$9,200	$13,600	101	80	15%	-22%	-18%	500	500	500	500	500
Sean O’Hair	$7,200	$9,000	$13,300	107	83	22%	-19%	-6%	49	10	500	500	500
Sam Saunders	$7,200	$8,000	$11,900	199	157	-29%	-5%	0%	20	500	65	500	500
Grayson Murray	$7,200	$8,800	$12,600	116	103	4%	-27%	2%	55	500	500	500	500
Chad Campbell	$7,200	$7,800	$11,500	253	214	-67%	-28%	-3%	34	118	72	500	60
Kevin Streelman	$7,200	$8,500	$12,600	133	99	14%	7%	13%	49	106	42	91	500
K.J. Choi	$7,200	$7,500	$11,400	577	210	-61%	2%	6%	99	118	50	500	500
Ryan Armour	$7,200	$7,900	$11,700	161	190	-47%	-16%	-3%	500	500	500	500	500
Dominic Bozzelli	$7,200	$8,100	$11,900	231	160	-31%	-14%	-2%	500	500	500	500	500
Keith Mitchell	$7,200	$8,000	$12,200	228	146	-22%	0%	-3%	500	500	500	500	500
Ian Poulter	$7,200	$8,800	$13,500	51	76	41%	22%	3%	500	500	500	108	500
Michael Kim	$7,100	$7,200	$11,700	369	183	-20%	29%	-1%	12	27	500	500	500
Sung Kang	$7,100	$7,700	$12,200	99	135	2%	13%	0%	2	69	500	500	500
Lee Westwood	$7,100	$9,400	$12,800	90	103	19%	-118%	-9%	133	118	87	17	10
James Hahn	$7,100	$9,100	$13,400	63	81	42%	-13%	-3%	49	124	500	36	56
Andrew Putnam	$7,100	$7,200	$11,600	353	208	-32%	22%	-3%	500	500	25	108	500
Shane Lowry	$7,100	$8,600	$12,400	77	109	12%	-21%	4%	500	95	500	500	92
Martin Kaymer	$7,100	$9,200	$12,900	87	99	27%	-59%	0%	500	500	109	91	500
Paul Dunne	$7,100	$8,100	$13,400	78	87	32%	29%	-21%	500	500	500	500	500
Nate Lashley	$7,100	$7,400	$11,200	297	263	-63%	-7%	-3%	500	500	500	500	500
Joel Dahmen	$7,100	$7,300	$11,200	515	250	-61%	0%	-2%	500	500	500	500	500
Chris Stroud	$7,000	$7,700	$11,700	173	194	-7%	-10%	-6%	82	27	17	12	38
Mac Hughes	$7,000	$7,500	$10,800	181	300	-65%	-41%	-2%	23	500	500	500	500
John Huh	$7,000	$8,400	$12,400	220	125	20%	-15%	-2%	39	106	17	37	105
Hunter Mahan	$7,000	$7,600	$11,500	651	190	-4%	3%	10%	121	113	25	31	78
Aaron Baddeley	$7,000	$8,100	$12,100	217	144	14%	-5%	2%	15	82	87	77	31
Michael Thompson	$7,000	$7,500	$11,500	354	220	-20%	-2%	-4%	12	500	67	61	92
Scott Brown	$7,000	$7,500	$11,400	148	230	-28%	-9%	-5%	71	71	37	500	73
Retief Goosen	$7,000	$7,400	$10,600	347	248	-36%	-4%	20%	110	66	500	7	92
Jonathan Byrd	$7,000	$7,200	$11,200	292	263	-39%	4%	-3%	500	500	109	19	136
Brandon Harkins	$7,000	$8,300	$12,500	200	125	22%	-6%	-6%	500	500	500	500	500
Xin-Jun Zhang	$7,000		$11,100	282	266	-45%		-1%	500	500	500	500	500
Ben Crane	$6,900	$7,400	$10,900	477	289	-38%	-22%	-4%	68	95	37	43	4
Beau Hossler	$6,900	$8,300	$12,100	214	147	24%	-20%	-2%	39	500	500	500	500
Johnson Wagner	$6,900	$7,300	$11,800	428	173	14%	27%	-3%	49	13	2	127	147
Tyrone Van Aswegen	$6,900	$8,100	$11,400	312	234	-14%	-63%	-8%	55	52	500	71	500
Tom Hoge	$6,900	$7,600	$11,300	182	213	-1%	-9%	9%	65	500	65	500	500
Martin Flores	$6,900	$7,700	$11,500	268	228	-8%	-28%	-8%	133	500	72	17	78
Derek Fathauer	$6,900	$7,300	$11,300	266	246	-16%	2%	-4%	71	72	87	500	500
Scott Stallings	$6,900	$8,900	$12,300	135	126	30%	-60%	0%	130	106	98	118	45
Seamus Power	$6,900	$7,800	$11,900	317	161	19%	-2%	-3%	500	500	500	500	500
Sam Ryder	$6,900	$7,100	$10,900	321	270	-28%	6%	4%	500	500	500	500	500
Denny McCarthy	$6,900	$7,400	$11,100	479	272	-29%	-14%	-4%	500	500	500	500	500
Alex Cejka	$6,800	$7,300	$11,200	226	273	-14%	-9%	-12%	500	500	11	500	500
Ryan Blaum	$6,800	$7,700	$11,600	313	222	8%	-25%	-11%	34	500	500	500	500
Ernie Els	$6,800	$7,100	$10,900	625	295	-23%	-4%	-6%	99	38	57	43	500
Nick Watney	$6,800	$8,700	$12,300	338	132	37%	-43%	-2%	136	500	25	500	27
Shawn Stefani	$6,800	$7,000	$11,200	376	230	3%	24%	5%	82	133	25	5	141
Troy Merritt	$6,800	$7,500	$11,700	379	200	16%	6%	-9%	55	500	98	500	500
Fabian Gomez	$6,800	$7,200	$10,700	564	328	-29%	-17%	-2%	82	500	98	500	105
Richy Werenski	$6,800	$7,200	$10,400	350	368	-36%	-24%	-3%	81	500	500	500	500
Brian Stuard	$6,800	$7,800	$10,700	218	290	-22%	-73%	3%	500	500	500	118	117
Talor Gooch	$6,800	$7,600	$11,600	212	198	18%	-1%	1%	500	500	500	500	500
Abraham Ancer	$6,800	$7,600	$11,700	221	180	23%	5%	0%	500	500	500	500	500
Stephan Jaeger	$6,800	$7,200	$10,400	290	367	-35%	-23%	-3%	500	500	500	500	500
Benjamin Silverman	$6,800	$7,000	$10,000	262	335	-32%	-3%	14%	500	500	500	500	500
Cameron Tringale	$6,700	$7,000	$11,700	380	204	26%	34%	-10%	78	57	5	4	16
Jon Curran	$6,700	$7,000	$10,300	653	513	-32%	-18%	-7%	500	70	72	31	500
Whee Kim	$6,700	$7,100	$11,100	147	328	-13%	-8%	-18%	110	64	25	500	500
Nick Taylor	$6,700	$7,300	$11,300	208	235	12%	3%	-3%	44	46	120	500	500
Bob Estes	$6,700	$7,100	$10,000	1186	363	-17%	-13%	12%	115	500	500	500	38
Geoff Ogilvy	$6,700	$7,100	$11,000	364	283	-2%	2%	-4%	23	46	500	127	141
Harold Varner	$6,700	$7,500	$11,300	183	225	18%	-5%	4%	23	133	500	500	500
Padraig Harrington	$6,700	$7,000	$11,000	189	268	3%	13%	1%	500	133	67	118	500
Bronson Burgoon	$6,700	$7,000	$11,000	442	275	-1%	9%	-3%	500	500	500	500	500
Jonathan Randolph	$6,700	$7,000	$10,400	281	355	-16%	-4%	-1%	500	500	109	500	500
Smylie Kaufman	$6,700	$7,000	$10,100	307	503	-30%	-16%	1%	121	500	120	500	500
Brett Stegmaier	$6,700	$7,000	$10,400	763	448	-25%	-12%	-8%	142	500	500	500	500
Robert Streb	$6,600	$7,100	$10,600	205	380	-8%	-16%	-6%	34	500	72	500	22
Andrew Loupe	$6,600	$7,000	$10,300	813	493	-15%	-15%	-4%	10	46	500	91	500
Robert Garrigus	$6,600	$7,500	$11,400	222	231	22%	-11%	-7%	20	500	500	61	500
Rod Pampling	$6,600	$7,700	$10,800	304	315	1%	-72%	-3%	500	500	500	500	500
Cody Gribble	$6,600	$7,000	$10,300	363	465	-13%	-13%	-2%	65	500	42	500	500
Blayne Barber	$6,600	$7,500	$11,600	371	210	32%	2%	-4%	44	106	57	500	500
J.J. Henry	$6,600	$7,000	$10,400	507	408	-11%	-11%	-8%	61	77	57	72	127
Camilo Villegas	$6,600	$7,100	$10,200	426	323	0%	-7%	12%	500	118	500	43	500
Adam Schenk	$6,600	$7,500	$11,400	288	228	26%	-6%	-2%	500	500	500	500	500
Yuta Ikeda	$6,600	$7,900	$11,200	54	265	15%	-60%	-6%	500	500	500	500	500
Tyler Duncan	$6,600	$7,000	$10,400	383	403	-9%	-9%	-6%	500	500	500	500	500
Martin Piller	$6,600	$7,000	$10,400	240	328	-1%	-1%	3%	500	500	500	500	500
Roberto Diaz	$6,600	$7,000	$10,100	546	400	-9%	-9%	7%	500	500	500	500	500
Danny Lee	$6,500	$7,100	$11,000	165	288	17%	1%	-5%	20	500	72	500	500
D.A. Points	$6,500	$7,000	$10,200	343	521	-7%	-19%	-5%	23	72	109	77	1
Jonas Blixt	$6,500		$10,900	269	264	24%		8%	139	81	25	91	92
Greg Chalmers	$6,500	$7,000	$10,800	464	493	-3%	-15%	-19%	82	500	500	69	105
Matt Every	$6,500	$7,000	$10,900	790	295	13%	3%	-6%	65	80	500	500	149
Peter Malnati	$6,500	$7,400	$10,300	645	475	-2%	-47%	-3%	110	95	500	500	500
Lanto Griffin	$6,500	$7,200	$10,900	360	288	17%	-7%	-1%	500	500	500	500	500
Rob Oppenheim	$6,500	$7,200	$10,700	252	288	17%	-7%	7%	500	500	500	500	500
Nicholas Lindheim	$6,500	$7,000	$10,400	333	403	2%	-9%	-6%	500	500	500	500	500
Ethan Tracy	$6,500	$7,000	$10,100	593	503	-5%	-16%	1%	500	500	500	500	500
JJ Wood	$6,500	$7,000	$10,200		625	-8%	-20%	-5%	500	500	500	500	500
Bobby Gates	$6,500	$7,000	$10,200		716	-9%	-21%	-6%	500	500	500	132	145

Color Coding
Course history in BLUE indicates a top ten finish.
Course history in GREEN indicates a top 25 finish.
Course history in YELLOW indicates a made cut with a finish outside of the top 25.
Course history in RED indicates a missed cut.

Legend