Final warm up for Masters in Houston
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2008 Shell Houston Open | Preview | 01 Apr 2008
With just a week to go before the first major of the year in Augusta next week, many of those who have qualified for the Masters are in Houston this week looking to get their games peaking at the right time. The Shell Houston Open also offers one last opportunity for those not already qualified to gain a place in the field at Augusta National but they will need to win.
Six players from the world top twelve are in the field, that number would have been increased if it were not for the late withdrawal of Ernie Els who has cited a virus complaint as the reason for his non appearance.
The tournament is being played at the Tournament Course at the Redstone Golf Club in Humble just outside of Houston, a layout designed by Rees Jones in conjunction with David Toms in 2005 and a layout that received praise since its introduction to PGA golf in 2006. Despite being played on Bermuda (Mini Verdie) greens compared to the Bent greens of Augusta National, the course offered a suitable lead up last year when it was played for the first time in the week prior to Augusta rather than later in April. The greens are prepared to run at very fast speeds and there are areas around the greens where there is little rough in an attempt to recreate Augusta like conditions and therefore attract a strong field.
Australians have won this event in each of the last two years at the new venue, Stuart Appleby winning in 2006 and Adam Scott the defending champion having won by three shots over Appleby and Bubba Watson. In fact, Australians have won this event on four occasions in the last nine years with Appleby winning twice and Scott and Robert Allenby once each.
Scott performed well enough at the recent World Golf Championship at Doral for him to again be a factor this year while Appleby seems to have gone off the boil a little after a very fast start to the year. Mind you Appleby has played better this year than was the case leading into this event in 2007, his runner up finish then the catalyst for a great week at Augusta where he led into the final round before finishing 7th.
Phil Mickelson normally likes to play the week before a major but was not at this event last year in his lead up to an ordinary week at Augusta. He is in the field this week and although he has not played this venue previously he is the classiest player in the field and has a chance.
Steve Stricker has played this course well with consecutive top tens and, although he missed the cut in New Orleans, his form prior including when 6th at Doral was good enough for him to continue his good record at this particular venue.
Padraig Harrington was knocking on the door last week in New Orleans and he is in the middle of such a consistent run of form at present that it is hard to see him not doing well this week. He has had two average finishes at this venue in the past two years but he appears likely to go much better.
K.J. Choi has played this golf course quite well and his form in recent weeks has been solid enough for him to be a factor. He finished 6th in 2006 and his chances seem good for him to be a genuine contender this week.
Geoff Ogilvy is in the field because his friend Adam Scott convinced him it was a good lead in event for Augusta. He arrives no doubt on cloud nine after his brilliant win at Doral and two very good weeks prior to that where he indicated he was running into some very good form.
Hunter Mahan and the Tournament Course at Redstone seem to get along ok and after a couple of good weeks of late, including when 6th at Bay Hill, his chances are good to improve on his 5th place last year and his 11th place in 2006.
The Australians other than those mentioned above are here in force. Several need a win this week to play at Augusta next week including the likes of Nathan Green and Rod Pampling but it might be a player who already has a start at Augusta who has a good chance of a win. Nick O’Hern comes off a good 6th place finish at Doral and although he has not played this venue it might just be the sort of golf course to suit him especially if things get breezy.
Peter Lonard has found the form he has been seeking for some time and although he missed the cut in his only start at this course in 2007 his game is in the best shape it has been in for a while. Nathan Green, Pampling, Jason Day, Steve Elkington, Matt Jones, Nick Flanagan, Mathew Goggin, Michael Sim, Stephen Leaney, Brett Rumford, and Mark Hensby make up the rest of the Australians while surprise packet, Tim Wilkinson, and Michael Campbell will fly the New Zealand flag.
