Top class field for Houston Open
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2009 Shell Houston Open | Preview | 01 Apr 2009
With just seven days left before the opening major championship of 2009, much interest is on how those who have decided to play this week’s Shell Houston Open will fare in their final preparation for Augusta National.
The move by the tournament to the Redstone Golf Club’s Tournament Course three years ago from the Member Course and prior to that the TPC Woodlands has convinced many of the world’s leading players to use this event as a lead in to the Masters.
Only Tiger Woods and Kenny Perry from the world top ten are missing this week’s event although in the case of Woods he would not have played irrespective of what venue the event was being played at, in keeping with his general policy of not playing the week before a major. Perry has had plenty of tournament golf this season and much of it in contention so he will benefit by a week’s break before his 9th visit to Augusta National.
The Reese Jones designed layout (with input from David Toms) contains Bermuda Greens which given that many are playing here in preparation for Augusta is somewhat of a surprise bearing in mind the Bent greens next week. The quality and speed of the greens however, their contour and the course set up – generally – is not unlike those many in this field will experience next week. That so many of the elite have turned up to play the event is a reflection of the success of the change of venue.
Phil Mickelson is the leading world ranked player in the field moving back to that position following his recent win at Doral. He could manage only 23rd in this event on his first visit to the tournament course last year but with two wins in his last three starts this season his form is better now than was the case last year.
Geoff Ogilvy finished joint runner up behind Johnson Wagner last year in his first visit to this venue but he has played well at the Houston Open in earlier seasons. With two wins this season he is a chance to do very well again but he will be just as keen to ensure his game is in good shape before he tackles his 4th Masters appearance next week.
Sergio Garcia is playing this venue and in fact this event for the very first time and while he might not be at his absolute best at present he is not far from it. He could manage only 31st at Doral but was 13th at the Honda. Garcia has played only a limited campaign this season but he may well be timing his run to peak at the right time next week. He is more than capable of winning this week however.
Padraig Harrington did well enough last week in Orlando for an 11th place finish and has played well enough in three visits to this particular layout. He has finished midfield in each of his three starts at the Tournament Course and while he is no doubt targeting his third consecutive major championship next week a good solid showing can be expected.
Steve Stricker has missed only one cut in his last 16 starts and has often contended in that time. He finished 4th at the recent Transitions event and was runner up at Riviera and importantly has shown a capacity to play this layout well having finished inside the top ten in each of his three starts. Stricker appears a very good chance to win this week.
After injury issues had threatened to derail his career, England’s Luke Donald is back and playing close to his best. He secured three consecutive top tens prior to his 20th place finish at Doral and although this is his first visit to this venue he has displayed a capacity to play well anywhere.
A player for longer odds this week might well be Scott Verplank. He has not played this venue previously but he is definitely approaching his best. He finished 4th behind Woods last week at Bay Hill and was inside the top 20 in his previous two starts.
The Australian challenge is headed by Ogilvy but he is joined by two time Houston Open winner Stuart Appleby, Greg Norman in his lead up to Augusta, Aaron Baddeley, Mathew Goggin, Nick O’Hern, John Senden, Nathan Green, Peter Lonard, Steve Elkington, James Nitties, Marc Leishman Aaron Price and Jarrod Lyle with New Zealander Tim Wilkinson adding to the down-under flavour.
