PGA First Look: Shell Houston Open
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
With the Masters right around the corner, it’s hard to focus on this week’s Shell Houston Open. Luckily, this event serves as a tune-up for the golfers that have already qualified to play in the Masters. This course is actually designed to mimic Augusta National as much as possible. The Golf Club of Houston is a Par 72 that measures over 7,400 yards (a lot like Augusta). The course features wide fairways, short rough, and shaved off areas around the greens. The greens typically measure at least 13 on the Stimpmeter, which is quiet a bit faster than your average course on tour. This course is also similar to Augusta in that it is less important to be in the fairway as it is being on the right side of the hole.
The field for this week’s event features 11 of the top 25 golfers in the world. Names like Jordan Spieth, Henrik Stenson, Rickie Fowler, Adam Scott, and Jon Rahm (among many others) will be battling it out in Houston. For those golfers that haven’t already qualified for next week, this serves as one final opportunity to punch your ticket. Charles Howell is one of the many narratives in play this week, as he would love to win and get in to the Masters. He is from the area and has been playing some of the best golf of his career this season. We also have some young golfers looking to break on the scene in America such as Beau Hossler, Ollie Schniederjans, Patrick Cantlay, and Peter Uihlein (whose father is the CEO of the company that owns Titleist).
There are quite a few hazards on this course, so spraying it off the tee can get you into trouble. However, with little rough to speak of, we certainly want to give an advantage to distance over accuracy off the tee. That’s not to say that a shorter hitter can’t contend here, but in a tiebreaker scenario, I would go with a bomber over the Zach Johnson type. The course features four par fives, which are essential scoring holes. We’ve also seen the winners here perform well on the par fours, so we will include that in our key statistics as well. We see a lot of consistency when looking at course history, so give that a slight bump this week as well.
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Cut Rule:Top 70 and ties move on after the first two rounds.
Recent Winners of this Event:Jim Herman (2016), J.B. Holmes (2015), Matt Jones (2014), D.A. Points (2013), Hunter Mahan (2012)
Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)
1) Strokes Gained Tee to Green
2) Birdie or Better %
3) Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
4) Par 5 Scoring
5) Par 4 Scoring
Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2012-2016)
| Golfer | DK Salary | FD Salary | OWGR | Odds | DK Odds Diff | FD Odds Diff | Cuts | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Spieth | $12,000 | $10,500 | 6 | 6 | 0% | 0% | 3/4 | 13 | 2 | 77 | 50 | 500 |
| Jon Rahm | $10,700 | $10,200 | 14 | 10 | 0% | 0% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Henrik Stenson | $10,400 | $10,000 | 5 | 12 | 0% | 0% | 4/4 | 2 | 500 | 54 | 2 | 21 |
| Justin Rose | $9,700 | $9,800 | 13 | 18 | 0% | 0% | 1/1 | 500 | 37 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Rickie Fowler | $10,000 | $9,500 | 9 | 15 | 0% | 33% | 4/4 | 10 | 71 | 6 | 500 | 63 |
| Phil Mickelson | $8,900 | $9,300 | 19 | 22 | 33% | 14% | 5/5 | 13 | 17 | 12 | 16 | 4 |
| Adam Scott | $9,400 | $10,000 | 7 | 25 | -17% | -133% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| J.B. Holmes | $9,200 | $8,400 | 37 | 32 | -14% | 27% | 3/3 | 500 | 1 | 12 | 500 | 8 |
| Russell Henley | $8,700 | $6,900 | 117 | 34 | 18% | 61% | 4/4 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 45 | 500 |
| Charles Howell | $8,500 | $7,500 | 64 | 51 | -23% | 0% | 3/4 | 7 | 5 | 123 | 10 | 500 |
| Daniel Berger | $8,800 | $7,600 | 40 | 35 | 0% | 33% | 2/2 | 5 | 25 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Matt Kuchar | $9,000 | $9,000 | 21 | 42 | -63% | -63% | 2/2 | 500 | 70 | 2 | 500 | 500 |
| Tony Finau | $7,100 | $7,900 | 72 | 39 | 76% | 8% | 1/2 | 82 | 42 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Patrick Reed | $7,700 | $8,700 | 12 | 39 | 48% | -22% | 2/3 | 10 | 17 | 500 | 117 | 500 |
| Rafael Cabrera-Bello | $7,900 | $8,200 | 26 | 54 | 0% | -58% | 1/1 | 4 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Lucas Glover | $8,300 | $6,400 | 116 | 71 | -47% | 29% | 2/4 | 57 | 500 | 91 | 146 | 82 |
| Jason Dufner | $7,100 | $7,800 | 70 | 56 | 61% | -43% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Billy Horschel | $7,700 | $7,100 | 71 | 42 | 33% | 26% | 1/1 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 2 | 500 |
| Charley Hoffman | $8,400 | $7,000 | 52 | 51 | -14% | 24% | 5/5 | 33 | 11 | 37 | 20 | 75 |
| Keegan Bradley | $7,100 | $7,100 | 105 | 67 | 59% | -11% | 4/5 | 113 | 5 | 43 | 10 | 4 |
| Jimmy Walker | $7,600 | $8,500 | 24 | 51 | 30% | -60% | 4/4 | 19 | 500 | 24 | 50 | 71 |
| Jhonattan Vegas | $7,300 | $6,900 | 61 | 72 | 31% | -4% | 4/4 | 19 | 55 | 72 | 500 | 47 |
| Patrick Cantlay | $8,600 | $5,700 | 232 | 49 | -25% | 69% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Luke List | $7,300 | $6,100 | 169 | 93 | 11% | 21% | 1/2 | 27 | 500 | 500 | 117 | 500 |
| Stewart Cink | $7,100 | $6,200 | 206 | 130 | 6% | -33% | 4/5 | 33 | 50 | 58 | 6 | 91 |
| Kyle Stanley | $7,400 | $5,600 | 195 | 104 | -33% | 33% | 3/4 | 19 | 500 | 54 | 78 | 75 |
| Lee Westwood | $8,200 | $7,400 | 53 | 76 | -56% | -47% | 3/5 | 118 | 87 | 17 | 10 | 21 |
| Hudson Swafford | $8,000 | $6,400 | 81 | 94 | -83% | -6% | 1/3 | 127 | 87 | 43 | 500 | 500 |
| Ollie Schniederjans | $6,700 | $6,700 | 127 | 85 | 68% | -7% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Peter Uihlein | $7,300 | $6,800 | 159 | 80 | 20% | -12% | 0/1 | 500 | 500 | 108 | 500 | 500 |
| Jamie Lovemark | $6,800 | $6,400 | 92 | 93 | 62% | 0% | 2/3 | 18 | 500 | 138 | 500 | 51 |
| Nick Watney | $8,100 | $6,800 | 287 | 80 | -59% | -8% | 2/2 | 500 | 25 | 500 | 27 | 500 |
| Jason Kokrak | $7,200 | $5,300 | 109 | 104 | 19% | 44% | 2/5 | 68 | 72 | 91 | 9 | 116 |
| Brian Harman | $7,500 | $5,800 | 96 | 108 | -48% | 16% | 3/5 | 52 | 98 | 58 | 92 | 75 |
| Chez Reavie | $7,400 | $5,500 | 130 | 148 | -100% | 4% | 3/3 | 7 | 37 | 500 | 31 | 500 |
| Bernd Wiesberger | $6,700 | $7,400 | 41 | 80 | 71% | -53% | 1/1 | 27 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| JT Poston | $6,600 | $5,700 | 196 | 108 | 63% | 24% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Cameron Smith | $7,000 | $5,700 | 121 | 115 | 33% | 16% | 1/1 | 19 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Ryan Palmer | $6,900 | $6,700 | 94 | 120 | 38% | -63% | 3/4 | 38 | 500 | 7 | 78 | 21 |
| Bryson DeChambeau | $7,600 | $5,900 | 107 | 71 | 0% | 47% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| J.J. Spaun | $7,300 | $6,100 | 119 | 98 | 3% | 13% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Jim Herman | $7,400 | $5,000 | 76 | 88 | -11% | 63% | 3/5 | 1 | 57 | 77 | 147 | 14 |
| Sean O’Hair | $6,700 | $6,300 | 85 | 123 | 50% | -32% | 2/2 | 10 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 42 |
| Matt Jones | $7,300 | $5,000 | 184 | 124 | -34% | 43% | 2/4 | 95 | 109 | 1 | 38 | 500 |
| Harris English | $7,200 | $6,200 | 88 | 123 | -5% | -25% | 3/3 | 57 | 500 | 500 | 50 | 18 |
| Kevin Chappell | $7,400 | $6,300 | 43 | 111 | -44% | -15% | 2/4 | 82 | 109 | 31 | 6 | 500 |
| Luke Donald | $7,500 | $6,500 | 93 | 115 | -68% | -45% | 1/1 | 500 | 500 | 24 | 500 | 500 |
| Chris Stroud | $6,900 | $5,200 | 302 | 183 | 13% | 15% | 5/5 | 27 | 17 | 12 | 38 | 80 |
| Bud Cauley | $7,400 | $5,200 | 179 | 156 | -107% | 23% | 2/2 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 16 | 8 |
| D.A. Points | $6,500 | $5,300 | 254 | 145 | 52% | 17% | 2/5 | 72 | 109 | 77 | 1 | 116 |
| Harold Varner | $7,800 | $5,400 | 124 | 114 | -100% | 33% | 0/1 | 133 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Martin Flores | $6,700 | $4,700 | 219 | 189 | 27% | 39% | 1/4 | 500 | 72 | 17 | 78 | 91 |
| Roberto Castro | $6,400 | $4,700 | 86 | 218 | 37% | 28% | 3/4 | 27 | 500 | 76 | 117 | 36 |
| Andy Sullivan | $7,300 | $6,500 | 60 | 131 | -40% | -69% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Chris Wood | $7,400 | $7,000 | 58 | 139 | -89% | -143% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| John Huh | $7,200 | $5,300 | 199 | 169 | -35% | 8% | 3/5 | 106 | 17 | 37 | 105 | 14 |
| Chad Campbell | $6,500 | $5,000 | 183 | 193 | 38% | 17% | 2/4 | 118 | 72 | 500 | 60 | 47 |
| Michael Kim | $6,400 | $5,300 | 237 | 219 | 35% | -27% | 1/1 | 27 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Danny Lee | $7,100 | $6,200 | 108 | 148 | -4% | -47% | 1/2 | 500 | 72 | 500 | 500 | 36 |
| Kevin Streelman | $6,600 | $5,800 | 129 | 185 | 34% | -48% | 1/4 | 106 | 42 | 91 | 500 | 91 |
| Cameron Tringale | $7,400 | $5,800 | 228 | 116 | -59% | 2% | 5/5 | 57 | 5 | 4 | 16 | 8 |
| David Hearn | $7,200 | $5,300 | 177 | 174 | -37% | 6% | 2/5 | 46 | 25 | 91 | 78 | 116 |
| Robert Garrigus | $6,600 | $4,800 | 222 | 228 | 16% | 15% | 1/1 | 500 | 500 | 61 | 500 | 500 |
| Whee Kim | $7,300 | $5,800 | 259 | 183 | -77% | -41% | 2/2 | 64 | 25 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| James Hahn | $7,100 | $5,200 | 78 | 182 | -20% | 16% | 2/3 | 124 | 500 | 36 | 56 | 500 |
| Andrew Johnston | $6,600 | $5,800 | 98 | 136 | 49% | -14% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Sung Kang | $6,900 | $4,900 | 202 | 233 | -21% | 2% | 1/2 | 69 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 123 |
| Kyle Reifers | $6,400 | $5,200 | 176 | 189 | 47% | 10% | 3/3 | 7 | 11 | 500 | 500 | 21 |
| John Peterson | $6,900 | $5,300 | 534 | 193 | 4% | -8% | 0/1 | 500 | 500 | 108 | 500 | 500 |
| David Lingmerth | $6,900 | $5,700 | 91 | 183 | 13% | -27% | 0/3 | 500 | 130 | 91 | 105 | 500 |
| Scott Brown | $7,400 | $5,700 | 114 | 150 | -104% | -12% | 2/3 | 71 | 37 | 500 | 73 | 500 |
| Johnson Wagner | $6,500 | $4,500 | 231 | 175 | 45% | 50% | 3/5 | 13 | 2 | 127 | 147 | 29 |
| Vaughn Taylor | $7,000 | $5,300 | 158 | 217 | -25% | -21% | 1/2 | 106 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 21 |
| Alex Cejka | $7,000 | $5,000 | 180 | 236 | -44% | -7% | 1/1 | 500 | 11 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Jonas Blixt | $7,300 | $5,300 | 252 | 217 | -117% | -21% | 3/5 | 81 | 25 | 91 | 92 | 29 |
| Mackenzie Hughes | $6,500 | $5,300 | 115 | 231 | 23% | -33% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Cody Gribble | $6,400 | $4,800 | 207 | 233 | 31% | 13% | 1/1 | 500 | 42 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Cheng-Tsung Pan | $7,200 | $4,700 | 135 | 197 | -65% | 34% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Seung-Yul Noh | $7,100 | $5,600 | 253 | 210 | -47% | -39% | 1/3 | 72 | 500 | 500 | 73 | 130 |
| Shawn Stefani | $6,400 | $4,800 | 371 | 208 | 40% | 24% | 3/5 | 133 | 25 | 5 | 141 | 36 |
| Boo Weekley | $7,200 | $4,700 | 350 | 240 | -112% | 16% | 3/3 | 57 | 500 | 500 | 45 | 14 |
| Robert Streb | $6,900 | $6,000 | 126 | 244 | -32% | -129% | 1/2 | 500 | 72 | 500 | 22 | 500 |
| Nick Taylor | $6,500 | $4,800 | 334 | 247 | 13% | 3% | 1/2 | 46 | 120 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Retief Goosen | $6,700 | $5,000 | 198 | 160 | 37% | 30% | 2/3 | 66 | 500 | 7 | 92 | 500 |
| John Senden | $6,500 | $4,800 | 200 | 272 | 8% | -2% | 2/3 | 46 | 500 | 500 | 105 | 18 |
| Michael Thompson | $7,100 | $4,600 | 215 | 206 | -43% | 37% | 2/4 | 500 | 67 | 61 | 92 | 91 |
| Beau Hossler | $6,900 | $5,100 | 196 | 1% | 10% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | |
| Kelly Kraft | $6,800 | $5,400 | 178 | 286 | -28% | -73% | 1/1 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 50 | 500 |
| Aaron Baddeley | $6,900 | $4,900 | 151 | 238 | -25% | -1% | 1/5 | 82 | 87 | 77 | 31 | 123 |
| Ben Martin | $6,900 | $4,900 | 213 | 219 | -13% | 9% | 1/2 | 52 | 500 | 77 | 500 | 500 |
| Ben Crane | $6,600 | $4,900 | 423 | 257 | 2% | -10% | 4/5 | 95 | 37 | 43 | 4 | 29 |
| Blayne Barber | $6,800 | $4,800 | 243 | 253 | -19% | 2% | 1/2 | 106 | 57 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Tyrone Van Aswegen | $6,500 | $5,400 | 234 | 261 | 10% | -63% | 2/2 | 52 | 500 | 71 | 500 | 500 |
| Morgan Hoffmann | $7,200 | $5,200 | 190 | 199 | -67% | 1% | 0/2 | 95 | 500 | 123 | 500 | 500 |
| Patton Kizzire | $6,900 | $4,800 | 131 | 264 | -39% | -1% | 0/1 | 95 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Sam Saunders | $7,000 | $4,900 | 372 | 239 | -48% | -2% | 1/1 | 500 | 65 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Fabian Gomez | $6,800 | $5,500 | 106 | 242 | -14% | -64% | 0/2 | 500 | 98 | 500 | 105 | 500 |
| Si Woo Kim | $7,000 | $5,100 | 68 | 219 | -31% | -3% | 1/1 | 13 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Geoff Ogilvy | $6,500 | $4,700 | 201 | 235 | 20% | 19% | 1/3 | 46 | 500 | 127 | 141 | 500 |
| J.J. Henry | $6,500 | $5,000 | 395 | 218 | 28% | 5% | 3/5 | 77 | 57 | 72 | 127 | 123 |
| Zac Blair | $6,400 | $5,500 | 282 | 289 | 15% | -88% | 1/2 | 38 | 120 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Fredrik Jacobson | $6,500 | $5,300 | 230 | 322 | -3% | -78% | 1/3 | 82 | 87 | 19 | 500 | 500 |
| Derek Fathauer | $6,400 | $4,600 | 205 | 318 | 11% | 4% | 1/2 | 72 | 87 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Ryo Ishikawa | $6,700 | $4,900 | 113 | 243 | -3% | -6% | 1/3 | 500 | 87 | 31 | 117 | 500 |
| Rafael Campos | $6,700 | $4,700 | 636 | 388 | -34% | -12% | 1/1 | 38 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Troy Merritt | $6,800 | $4,900 | 216 | 282 | -27% | -17% | 0/1 | 500 | 98 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Bryce Molder | $7,000 | $5,500 | 226 | 289 | -72% | -88% | 2/5 | 46 | 130 | 127 | 92 | 18 |
| Jason Bohn | $6,500 | $5,100 | 303 | 319 | -2% | -42% | 2/3 | 500 | 17 | 500 | 92 | 56 |
| Grayson Murray | $7,000 | $4,700 | 155 | 275 | -66% | 6% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Ricky Barnes | $6,600 | $4,800 | 264 | 361 | -18% | -19% | 3/4 | 500 | 125 | 43 | 69 | 67 |
| Stuart Appleby | $6,400 | $4,500 | 486 | 539 | -7% | -11% | 1/4 | 38 | 500 | 91 | 73 | 116 |
| Smylie Kaufman | $6,800 | $4,500 | 162 | 325 | -40% | 6% | 0/1 | 500 | 120 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Tom Hoge | $6,400 | $4,800 | 414 | 409 | 1% | -26% | 1/1 | 500 | 65 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| K.J. Choi | $6,500 | $4,900 | 188 | 310 | 1% | -23% | 1/2 | 118 | 50 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Mark Anderson | $7,000 | $4,500 | 399 | 384 | -97% | 0% | 1/1 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 29 |
| Brett Stegmaier | $6,500 | $4,500 | 310 | 381 | -8% | 2% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Hunter Mahan | $6,700 | $6,000 | 596 | 281 | -13% | -149% | 3/5 | 113 | 25 | 31 | 78 | 1 |
| Greg Chalmers | $6,800 | $4,900 | 273 | 311 | -35% | -24% | 1/2 | 500 | 500 | 69 | 105 | 500 |
| Ernie Els | $7,000 | $5,100 | 409 | 333 | -89% | -47% | 4/4 | 38 | 57 | 43 | 500 | 12 |
| Brendon De Jonge | $6,800 | $4,500 | 612 | 472 | -56% | -5% | 4/5 | 124 | 5 | 37 | 10 | 42 |
| Steve Marino | $6,400 | $4,500 | 430 | 339 | 6% | 3% | 1/1 | 72 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Chad Collins | $7,000 | $4,800 | 318 | 325 | -85% | -15% | 1/3 | 82 | 11 | 77 | 500 | 500 |
| William Lunde | $7,200 | $4,600 | 470 | 294 | -149% | 7% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Angel Cabrera | $6,600 | $4,900 | 687 | 383 | -20% | -35% | 4/5 | 79 | 98 | 43 | 16 | 21 |
| Ken Duke | $6,400 | $4,500 | 351 | 525 | -5% | -8% | 0/3 | 133 | 98 | 500 | 127 | 500 |
| Spencer Levin | $6,600 | $4,500 | 301 | 467 | -26% | -4% | 0/1 | 82 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Peter Malnati | $6,800 | $4,600 | 390 | 489 | -58% | -11% | 0/1 | 95 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Davis Love | $6,400 | $4,600 | 434 | 397 | 2% | -6% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Mark Hubbard | $7,100 | $4,500 | 500 | 433 | -143% | -3% | 1/2 | 19 | 140 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Andrew Loupe | $6,500 | $4,500 | 305 | 536 | -21% | -10% | 1/2 | 46 | 500 | 91 | 500 | 500 |
| Robert Allenby | $6,400 | $4,500 | 750 | 483 | -2% | -6% | 1/5 | 82 | 133 | 77 | 105 | 80 |
| Carl Pettersson | $6,500 | $4,500 | 828 | 511 | -18% | -8% | 3/5 | 127 | 120 | 31 | 65 | 2 |
| Matt Every | $6,700 | $4,500 | 1071 | 528 | -46% | -9% | 1/3 | 80 | 500 | 500 | 149 | 91 |
| Ben Willman | $6,400 | $4,500 | 708 | -10% | -13% | 0/1 | 500 | 120 | 500 | 500 | 500 | |
| Bob Estes | $7,100 | $4,500 | 542 | -163% | -12% | 1/2 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 38 | 135 | |
| Charlie Beljan | $6,600 | $4,500 | 561 | -36% | -13% | 2/3 | 500 | 17 | 118 | 38 | 500 | |
| Rich Berberian | $6,600 | $4,500 | 875 | -39% | -15% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | |
| Steven Bowditch | $6,400 | $4,500 | 555 | 778 | -10% | -14% | 1/4 | 127 | 98 | 123 | 56 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Odds Diff | The percentage differential between a golfer’s salary rank and odds rank. The higher the %, the better. |
| OWGR | Official World Golf Ranking |
| Cuts | Cut record of each golfer at this course in the last five seasons. |
| 2012 – 2016 Columns | Course history at this event in the last five seasons. |