PGA First Look: Shell Houston Open
The PGA First Look is complete with sortable odds, salaries, Official World Golf Rankings, course history, and tee times.
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Course Preview
We had two winners on tour last week. Jason Day outlasted the competition to win the WGC Match Play championship, while Tony Finau picked up his first PGA Tour victory at the Puerto Rico Open. This week’s event will serve as a warm up for one of my favorite weeks of the year – The Masters. The Shell Houston Open is played at the Golf Club of Houston. This is the 11th straight year that the event has been held here, so course history should play a pivotal role in our decision-making process.
The Golf Club of Houston is a Par 72 course that stretches up to 7,455 yards. There are four par fives and four par fours. This course was designed by Rees Jones, specifically to match the type of play at The Masters. The Course features wide fairways, little rough, lots of water, run offs, collection areas, and fast greens (usually around 13 on the stimpmeter). Players will try to win this week, but a lot of them will use this as a test run to get ready for next week. We have a pretty stacked field, so it should make for a good week of golf.
As for the type of player that we are looking for, distance trumps accuracy on this course. Not only does the course measure nearly 7,500 yards, but there is very little rough. As long as you aren’t hitting into the water hazards, length will provide an advantage. Last season, J.B. Holmes took home the hardware. He finished first in driving distance and dead last in driving accuracy. We are also looking for players that can score on the four par fives and those that hit a lot of greens in regulation. As always, strokes gained tee to green and strokes gained putting should be included in your analysis as well.
Fantasy Notes
Cut Rule: Top 70 and ties will move on after the first two rounds. There are 144 golfers in the field this week, which is quite a few more than there have been in the last two events. Potentially, more than half of the field could miss the cut.
Recent Winners of this Event: J.B. Holmes (2015), Matt Jones (2014), D.A. Points (2013), Hunter Mahan (2012), Phil Mickelson (2011)
Weather: It could be an interesting week, as far as the weather is concerned. There is an 80% chance of rain on Thursday and then the winds start pick up on both Friday and Saturday. Make sure to check the forum for Kevin Roth’s weather report on Wednesday.
Tee Times & Pairings: TBD
Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2011-2015)
| Golfer | Salary | S-Rank | Odds | O-Rank | + / – | OWGR | Cuts | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henrik Stenson | $10,800 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 4/4 | 500 | 54 | 2 | 21 | 500 |
| Rickie Fowler | $11,000 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4/4 | 71 | 6 | 500 | 63 | 500 |
| Jordan Spieth | $12,900 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2/3 | 2 | 77 | 50 | 500 | 500 |
| Phil Mickelson | $10,500 | 5 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 20 | 7/8 | 17 | 12 | 16 | 4 | 1 |
| Dustin Johnson | $10,700 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 1/3 | 500 | 500 | 4 | 500 | 500 |
| Louis Oosthuizen | $10,200 | 7 | 23 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 3/6 | 72 | 77 | 10 | 3 | 16 |
| J.B. Holmes | $9,700 | 9 | 25 | 8 | 1 | 23 | 5/6 | 1 | 12 | 500 | 8 | 42 |
| Charl Schwartzel | $9,500 | 10 | 26 | 9 | 1 | 21 | 4/6 | 42 | 19 | 500 | 91 | 30 |
| Sergio Garcia | $9,900 | 8 | 26 | 10 | -2 | 15 | 3/3 | 37 | 3 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Patrick Reed | $10,300 | 6 | 21 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 1/2 | 17 | 500 | 117 | 500 | 500 |
| Jimmy Walker | $9,200 | 12 | 39 | 12 | 0 | 24 | 6/8 | 500 | 24 | 50 | 71 | 30 |
| Charles Howell III | $8,900 | 13 | 60 | 13 | 0 | 102 | 6/8 | 5 | 123 | 10 | 500 | 19 |
| Brooks Koepka | $9,300 | 11 | 28 | 11 | 0 | 18 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Ryan Palmer | $8,200 | 18 | 65 | 19 | -1 | 73 | 4/8 | 500 | 7 | 78 | 21 | 120 |
| Charley Hoffman | $8,400 | 16 | 62 | 14 | 2 | 58 | 9/9 | 11 | 37 | 20 | 75 | 24 |
| Graham DeLaet | $8,700 | 14 | 62 | 15 | -1 | 133 | 4/5 | 42 | 19 | 31 | 91 | 500 |
| Kevin Chappell | $7,800 | 25 | 63 | 16 | 9 | 69 | 2/4 | 109 | 31 | 6 | 500 | 97 |
| Brendan Steele | $7,400 | 33 | 83 | 29 | 4 | 77 | 3/5 | 25 | 91 | 38 | 91 | 51 |
| Harris English | $7,600 | 29 | 80 | 26 | 3 | 70 | 2/2 | 500 | 500 | 50 | 18 | 500 |
| Tony Finau | $8,100 | 19 | 65 | 18 | 1 | 72 | 1/1 | 42 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Keegan Bradley | $8,300 | 17 | 66 | 20 | -3 | 98 | 5/5 | 5 | 43 | 10 | 4 | 51 |
| Daniel Berger | $8,100 | 19 | 80 | 25 | -6 | 59 | 1/1 | 25 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Scott Piercy | $7,700 | 27 | 74 | 23 | 4 | 48 | 5/5 | 10 | 500 | 500 | 21 | 42 |
| Jamie Lovemark | $7,900 | 23 | 79 | 24 | -1 | 119 | 1/2 | 500 | 138 | 500 | 51 | 500 |
| Scott Brown | $7,900 | 23 | 81 | 27 | -4 | 135 | 1/2 | 37 | 500 | 73 | 500 | 500 |
| Jason Kokrak | $8,000 | 21 | 84 | 30 | -9 | 103 | 1/4 | 72 | 91 | 9 | 116 | 500 |
| Gary Woodland | $7,300 | 35 | 108 | 36 | -1 | 71 | 2/3 | 500 | 500 | 50 | 500 | 13 |
| Patton Kizzire | $7,400 | 33 | 81 | 28 | 5 | 57 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Shane Lowry | $7,600 | 29 | 92 | 32 | -3 | 32 | 0/1 | 500 | 500 | 92 | 500 | 500 |
| Rafa Cabrera-Bello | $8,500 | 15 | 64 | 17 | -2 | 36 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Lee Westwood | $7,000 | 42 | 114 | 39 | 3 | 66 | 7/8 | 87 | 17 | 10 | 21 | 30 |
| Cameron Tringale | $8,000 | 21 | 74 | 22 | -1 | 88 | 5/5 | 5 | 4 | 16 | 8 | 73 |
| Matt Jones | $7,500 | 31 | 94 | 33 | -2 | 64 | 2/6 | 109 | 1 | 38 | 500 | 92 |
| John Huh | $7,200 | 37 | 108 | 37 | 0 | 183 | 3/4 | 17 | 37 | 105 | 14 | 500 |
| K.J. Choi | $7,800 | 25 | 90 | 31 | -6 | 97 | 4/5 | 50 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Patrick Rodgers | $7,300 | 35 | 97 | 34 | 1 | 124 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Freddie Jacobson | $7,500 | 31 | 100 | 35 | -4 | 95 | 3/7 | 87 | 19 | 500 | 500 | 110 |
| Bernd Wiesberger | $7,000 | 42 | 122 | 42 | 0 | 40 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Chez Reavie | $6,700 | 51 | 138 | 49 | 2 | 101 | 4/6 | 37 | 500 | 31 | 500 | 79 |
| William McGirt | $7,200 | 37 | 125 | 43 | -6 | 118 | 1/4 | 500 | 500 | 127 | 82 | 81 |
| Steve Stricker | $7,700 | 27 | 71 | 21 | 6 | 203 | 7/8 | 500 | 24 | 38 | 36 | 4 |
| Ben Martin | $6,900 | 45 | 126 | 44 | 1 | 91 | 1/2 | 500 | 77 | 500 | 500 | 36 |
| Kyle Reifers | $6,900 | 45 | 141 | 50 | -5 | 181 | 3/3 | 11 | 500 | 500 | 21 | 500 |
| Jonas Blixt | $7,100 | 39 | 112 | 38 | 1 | 125 | 2/4 | 25 | 91 | 92 | 29 | 500 |
| Russell Henley | $7,000 | 42 | 117 | 41 | 1 | 89 | 3/3 | 4 | 7 | 45 | 500 | 500 |
| Hunter Mahan | $7,100 | 39 | 116 | 40 | -1 | 99 | 7/10 | 25 | 31 | 78 | 1 | 8 |
| Adam Hadwin | $6,600 | 54 | 128 | 46 | 8 | 185 | 1/1 | 25 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Sean O’Hair | $6,800 | 48 | 148 | 52 | -4 | 126 | 2/2 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 42 | 500 |
| Retief Goosen | $6,800 | 48 | 132 | 48 | 0 | 177 | 2/3 | 500 | 7 | 92 | 500 | 60 |
| Thongchai Jaidee | $6,900 | 45 | 131 | 47 | -2 | 41 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Alex Cejka | $6,800 | 48 | 148 | 52 | -4 | 139 | 5/6 | 11 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 36 |
| Aaron Baddeley | $7,100 | 39 | 126 | 44 | -5 | 280 | 5/9 | 87 | 77 | 31 | 123 | 4 |
| Kevin Streelman | $6,700 | 51 | 149 | 54 | -3 | 117 | 2/5 | 42 | 91 | 500 | 91 | 500 |
| Martin Laird | $6,600 | 54 | 156 | 56 | -2 | 189 | 2/4 | 500 | 500 | 73 | 500 | 500 |
| Will Wilcox | $6,500 | 56 | 153 | 55 | 1 | 134 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Chad Campbell | $6,300 | 62 | 181 | 61 | 1 | 200 | 6/7 | 72 | 500 | 60 | 47 | 13 |
| John Senden | $6,400 | 59 | 157 | 57 | 2 | 100 | 5/6 | 500 | 500 | 105 | 18 | 24 |
| Lucas Glover | $6,300 | 62 | 183 | 62 | 0 | 278 | 5/9 | 500 | 91 | 146 | 82 | 97 |
| Vaughn Taylor | $5,700 | 85 | 189 | 65 | 20 | 93 | 5/7 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 21 | 30 |
| Jamie Donaldson | $6,700 | 51 | 158 | 58 | -7 | 55 | 0/1 | 72 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Hudson Swafford | $6,000 | 71 | 197 | 72 | -1 | 234 | 1/2 | 87 | 43 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Brian Harman | $6,100 | 68 | 191 | 67 | 1 | 112 | 2/4 | 98 | 58 | 92 | 75 | 500 |
| David Hearn | $6,300 | 62 | 183 | 63 | -1 | 148 | 2/5 | 25 | 91 | 78 | 116 | 6 |
| Jason Gore | $5,700 | 85 | 194 | 69 | 16 | 172 | 3/5 | 500 | 19 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Padraig Harrington | $5,900 | 74 | 198 | 73 | 1 | 128 | 8/9 | 67 | 118 | 500 | 71 | 8 |
| Camilo Villegas | $6,400 | 59 | 163 | 59 | 0 | 205 | 3/4 | 500 | 43 | 500 | 91 | 500 |
| Steve Marino | $6,100 | 68 | 145 | 51 | 17 | 237 | 5/5 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 66 |
| Andrew Loupe | $5,700 | 85 | 213 | 76 | 9 | 187 | 0/1 | 500 | 91 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Derek Fathauer | $6,500 | 56 | 183 | 63 | -7 | 218 | 0/2 | 87 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Jhonattan Vegas | $5,700 | 85 | 194 | 69 | 16 | 284 | 3/4 | 55 | 72 | 500 | 47 | 110 |
| Ernie Els | $6,200 | 65 | 190 | 66 | -1 | 219 | 6/6 | 57 | 43 | 500 | 12 | 51 |
| Chris Stroud | $6,200 | 65 | 192 | 68 | -3 | 168 | 5/9 | 17 | 12 | 38 | 80 | 97 |
| Johnson Wagner | $6,100 | 68 | 195 | 71 | -3 | 229 | 6/9 | 2 | 127 | 147 | 29 | 36 |
| Cameron Smith | $6,500 | 56 | 175 | 60 | -4 | 105 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Boo Weekley | $5,600 | 90 | 214 | 77 | 13 | 149 | 3/4 | 500 | 500 | 45 | 14 | 60 |
| Greg Owen | $5,300 | 109 | 256 | 95 | 14 | 154 | 4/6 | 133 | 500 | 22 | 14 | 500 |
| Brendon de Jonge | $6,200 | 65 | 222 | 81 | -16 | 192 | 6/8 | 5 | 37 | 10 | 42 | 92 |
| Stewart Cink | $5,900 | 74 | 253 | 94 | -20 | 213 | 3/4 | 50 | 58 | 6 | 91 | 500 |
| Roberto Castro | $5,700 | 85 | 208 | 75 | 10 | 283 | 2/3 | 500 | 76 | 117 | 36 | 500 |
| Seung-yul Noh | $5,900 | 74 | 227 | 82 | -8 | 223 | 0/2 | 500 | 500 | 73 | 130 | 500 |
| Andres Romero | $6,000 | 71 | 214 | 78 | -7 | 300 | 2/8 | 142 | 24 | 136 | 106 | 66 |
| Kyle Stanley | $5,600 | 90 | 244 | 87 | 3 | 308 | 3/4 | 500 | 54 | 78 | 75 | 60 |
| Bryce Molder | $6,000 | 71 | 216 | 79 | -8 | 202 | 2/7 | 130 | 127 | 92 | 18 | 130 |
| Brett Stegmaier | $5,600 | 90 | 244 | 87 | 3 | 249 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Nick Taylor | $5,900 | 74 | 219 | 80 | -6 | 281 | 0/1 | 120 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Blayne Barber | $5,900 | 74 | 244 | 87 | -13 | 225 | 1/1 | 57 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Shawn Stefani | $5,800 | 80 | 250 | 90 | -10 | 236 | 3/4 | 25 | 5 | 141 | 36 | 500 |
| Vijay Singh | $5,600 | 90 | 252 | 92 | -2 | 208 | 1/2 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Hiroshi Iwata | $5,900 | 74 | 238 | 85 | -11 | 104 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Jeff Overton | $5,400 | 101 | 250 | 90 | 11 | 342 | 6/7 | 72 | 37 | 27 | 4 | 500 |
| David Toms | $5,500 | 96 | 228 | 83 | 13 | 209 | 2/5 | 87 | 37 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Si Woo Kim | $5,500 | 96 | 272 | 103 | -7 | 167 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Jim Herman | $5,300 | 109 | 284 | 105 | 4 | 191 | 3/5 | 57 | 77 | 147 | 14 | 66 |
| Will MacKenzie | $6,400 | 59 | 203 | 74 | -15 | 379 | 0/5 | 109 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 97 |
| Ben Crane | $5,600 | 90 | 238 | 85 | 5 | 377 | 7/8 | 37 | 43 | 4 | 29 | 24 |
| James Hahn | $5,400 | 101 | 266 | 101 | 0 | 121 | 2/2 | 500 | 36 | 56 | 500 | 500 |
| Luke Guthrie | $5,600 | 90 | 237 | 84 | 6 | 340 | 1/3 | 17 | 123 | 136 | 500 | 500 |
| Bronson Burgoon | $5,400 | 101 | 259 | 98 | 3 | 277 | 0/1 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Spencer Levin | $5,800 | 80 | 256 | 95 | -15 | 268 | 1/3 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 134 |
| Mark Hubbard | $5,400 | 101 | 252 | 92 | 9 | 432 | 0/1 | 140 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Colt Knost | $5,300 | 109 | 272 | 103 | 6 | 206 | 2/5 | 109 | 500 | 105 | 89 | 139 |
| Morgan Hoffmann | $5,800 | 80 | 263 | 99 | -19 | 153 | 0/1 | 500 | 123 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Harold Varner III | $5,500 | 96 | 297 | 108 | -12 | 264 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Scott Pinckney | $5,300 | 109 | 266 | 101 | 8 | 240 | 0/1 | 129 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Chesson Hadley | $5,800 | 80 | 263 | 99 | -19 | 263 | 1/1 | 50 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Ricky Barnes | $5,400 | 101 | 284 | 105 | -4 | 309 | 4/6 | 125 | 43 | 69 | 67 | 500 |
| Davis Love III | $5,100 | 124 | 350 | 116 | 8 | 159 | 3/5 | 500 | 61 | 500 | 500 | 130 |
| Geoff Ogilvy | $5,300 | 109 | 303 | 110 | -1 | 190 | 2/5 | 500 | 127 | 141 | 500 | 500 |
| Jon Curran | $5,800 | 80 | 300 | 109 | -29 | 230 | 1/2 | 72 | 31 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Angel Cabrera | $5,500 | 96 | 319 | 112 | -16 | 315 | 5/9 | 98 | 43 | 16 | 21 | 81 |
| Scott Langley | $5,400 | 101 | 258 | 97 | 4 | 395 | 0/3 | 109 | 77 | 78 | 500 | 500 |
| Carlos Ortiz | $5,300 | 109 | 319 | 112 | -3 | 314 | 0/1 | 125 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Carl Pettersson | $5,200 | 115 | 334 | 114 | 1 | 233 | 5/6 | 120 | 31 | 65 | 2 | 500 |
| Zac Blair | $5,500 | 96 | 303 | 110 | -14 | 141 | 0/1 | 120 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Matt Every | $5,400 | 101 | 295 | 107 | -6 | 171 | 0/3 | 500 | 500 | 149 | 91 | 500 |
| J.J. Henry | $5,000 | 132 | 409 | 124 | 8 | 243 | 6/9 | 57 | 72 | 127 | 123 | 19 |
| Dawie Van Der Walt | $5,200 | 115 | 375 | 120 | -5 | 244 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Tyrone Van Aswegen | $5,100 | 124 | 416 | 125 | -1 | 295 | 1/1 | 500 | 71 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Steven Bowditch | $5,000 | 132 | 434 | 128 | 4 | 84 | 1/4 | 98 | 123 | 56 | 500 | 136 |
| Peter Malnati | $5,100 | 124 | 344 | 115 | 9 | 164 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Erik Compton | $5,100 | 124 | 394 | 122 | 2 | 296 | 4/4 | 55 | 12 | 500 | 42 | 79 |
| Scott Stallings | $5,100 | 124 | 400 | 123 | 1 | 290 | 1/4 | 98 | 118 | 45 | 500 | 110 |
| Fito Cazaubon | $5,200 | 115 | 350 | 116 | -1 | 269 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| D.A. Points | $5,400 | 101 | 353 | 118 | -17 | 664 | 5/8 | 109 | 77 | 1 | 116 | 60 |
| Steve Wheatcroft | $5,200 | 115 | 425 | 127 | -12 | 360 | 2/5 | 98 | 500 | 22 | 63 | 500 |
| Stuart Appleby | $5,200 | 115 | 419 | 126 | -11 | 414 | 5/9 | 500 | 91 | 73 | 116 | 110 |
| Michael Kim | $5,100 | 124 | 353 | 118 | 6 | 383 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Rafael Campos | $5,200 | 115 | 479 | 130 | -15 | 492 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Rhein Gibson | $5,200 | 115 | 381 | 121 | -6 | 329 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Charlie Beljan | $5,100 | 124 | 625 | 135 | -11 | 461 | 2/3 | 17 | 118 | 38 | 500 | 500 |
| Whee Kim | $5,200 | 115 | 497 | 131 | -16 | 410 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Justin Hicks | $5,000 | 132 | 472 | 129 | 3 | 645 | 1/2 | 500 | 43 | 78 | 500 | 500 |
| Chad Collins | $5,000 | 132 | 513 | 133 | -1 | 478 | 1/4 | 11 | 77 | 500 | 500 | 97 |
| Ken Duke | $5,200 | 115 | 516 | 134 | -19 | 457 | 1/4 | 98 | 500 | 127 | 500 | 500 |
| Brian Gay | $5,100 | 124 | 500 | 132 | -8 | 2/3 | 500 | 43 | 500 | 500 | 500 | |
| Andres Gonzales | $5,000 | 132 | 984 | 136 | -4 | 445 | 0/1 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 134 |
| Robert Allenby | $5,000 | 132 | 1297 | 138 | -6 | 727 | 3/6 | 133 | 77 | 105 | 80 | 6 |
| Omar Uresti | $5,000 | 132 | 1297 | 138 | -6 | 3/4 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 71 | 500 | |
| Matt Dobyns | $5,000 | 132 | 1125 | 137 | -5 | 0/1 | 500 | 500 | 149 | 500 | 500 | |
| Mike Weir | $5,000 | 132 | 1688 | 140 | -8 | 1040 | 1/2 | 500 | 108 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
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
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| S-Rank | Each golfer’s salary rank compared to the field, with one being the most expensive. |
| O-Rank | Each golfer’s odds rank compared to the field, with one the biggest favorite. |
| + / – | The difference between a golfer’s salary and odds rank. The bigger the number, the better. |
| OWGR | Official World Golf Ranking |
| Cuts | Cut record of each golfer at this event in the last ten seasons. |
| 2011 – 2015 Columns | Course history at this event over the last five seasons. |