A week after the exciting Match Play competition and a week before the storied Masters, the tour moves to the Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas for the Houston Open.
Houston’s Golf Club is a long puppy, registering at 7,337 yards from the black tees and featuring a pair of par fives — holes two and 13 — that register at 613 and 633 yards, respectively. Another pair of fives and the requisite threes, all between 185 and 208, are peppered in among the fours, all of which log at more than 389 yards.
That means the big hitters — guys who can drive in excess of 300 yards as well as those who can hit the green from 175 out — were the focus of this week’s selections.
In addition to going with last year’s winner, who are the rest of my choices this week? Well, let’s see, and don’t forget you can join a foursome playing the DraftKings Weekly Hybrid PGA.
Luke List ($9600): List has made 10 of 13 cuts thus far, but ranks #3 at distance from the tee box with a 316.7 yard average, and holds the #19 slot 175-200 (60.82%). )n the long course, that seems like a good bet. Add in that List tied for third at the Houston last year, and all things fall in line for a good weekend.
Russell Henley ($9200): Last year’s champ, Henley has finished in the top seven four straight times leading into the 2017 victory. Henley, who has played the weekend six of eight times, does register #36 from 175-200 (59.02%), and his tee shots average 293.4 yards.
Tony Finau ($9000): #Finau is eight of 10 making the cut, averaging 72.2 points per week, while registering three top 10 finishes this season. But, at $9000, he almost becomes a value pick registering first from 175-200 (73,33%) and first as well at distance out of the box, averaging 322.7 yards per drive.
Steve Stricker ($8800): Stricker picks and chooses his contests carefully these days, but he has made the cut all three attempts this season, averaging 72.7 points. Add in that Stricker has made the cut seven of nine times at Houston and that he has four top 11 finishes, and the gamble is worth it.
Nick Watney ($6800): Watney can indeed blast from the box, ranking #15 overall with an average of 309.1 yards per drive while rating #90 between 175-200 yards out. Watney has made seven cuts this season and is averaging 54.6 points.
J.J. Henry ($6700): Another value selection, Henry is quite good, ranking #6 between 175-200 yards out while averaging 288.6 yards off the tee. Henry has only made five of 11 cuts, so I am looking at his power hitting to keep me competitive this weekend.
