The 2017 Shell Houston Open will provide PGA Tour hopefuls with the last chance to qualify for The Masters on a course set out in a manner similar to Augusta National.
The course
The Golf Club of Houston plays host this week as a host of players go in search of a win and of course, the invite to The Masters. Many suggest the course serves as a good appetiser for Augusta National, which would give some indication as to why many of the world’s best are turning up. The fairways are generously wide and the rough is limited to an inch, which means hitting greens and sinking putts will most likely determine the winner. The most striking similarities between this week’s venue and the next are the lightning quick, undulating greens on the par 72 layout, which measures 7441 yards.
The field
While last week’s winner Dustin Johnson opted out, citing fatigue after three consecutive wins, the field is particularly strong as the Tour’s best time their run-in to The Masters. Jon Rahm will be looking to add a second title to his name, while Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson and Rafa Cabrera Bello will compete. After missing the WGC Match Play, Justin Rose, Adam Scott Henrik Stenson and Rickie Fowler will peg it up in Houston in the hopes of building momentum for what lies ahead at Augusta.
South Africans in the field
Only three South Africans join the field this week, as Tyrone van Aswegen joins veterans Ernie Els and Retief Goosen in the lineup. Goosen comes into the event on the back of his T2 finish in Puerto Rico, and will be looking for more of the same this week.
Defending champ
Unheralded Jim Herman walked away with $1 224 000 and a place in The Masters last year after holding off Henrik Stenson, who missed a birdie from inside 20 foot on the last to lose by one.
Past winners
J.B. Holmes defeated Jordan Spieth in a playoff in 2015 to add his name to the list of former champs which include Matt Jones, D.A. Points, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Anthony Kim, Paul Casey, Johnson Wagner and Adam Scott.
Three to watch
Phil Mickelson (26-1) has played here every year for almost a decade and has won once and has had five finishes inside the top 20 in that time. Matt Kuchar (51-1) has good record in Houston with three top tens and a playoff loss in 2014, and performed nicely at the WGC Match Play. Sweden’s Henrik Stenson (15-) has not had a great season, but is another with a good record at the Houston Open with two runner-up finishes and a T3 in five appearances.
Wildcard
Peter Uihlein (99-1) has had a steady start to the season, albeit in the European Tour’s co-sanctioned events. With the tournament’s history of throwing up ‘out of the box’ winners, who happen to prevail from America, this week’s wildcard is Uihlein. He matches the profile and comes into this week after a T5 in Puerto Rico.
Photo: File
