Shell Houston Open Preview

With The Masters now just a week away, all eyes will turn to Houston. The Redstone course has hosted this tournament since 2006 and is notorious for its long, testing and grainy greens. Last years winner Anthony Kim, showed good putting and scrambling on his way to victory but who will find form this year, ahead of the chase for the green jacket. There are only 4 of the world’s top ten playing in Texas as many choose to take a break before Augusta. So with this in mind,these are the men I would expect to be topping the leader board come Sunday night.

Fred Couples

This time last year, Couples was dominating the Champions Tour and departed Augusta with a sixth place finish. Though today, Fred isn’t in the same form, he still drives 300 yards and tops the putting stats. His last win on the regular tour came at the Shell Houston Open in 2003 and he still posed a threat at the Northern Trust Open, where he finished seventh just over a month ago. Furthermore, he loves this course. He has had a brace of top fours in 2008 and 2009 and a win in 2003. Fred Couples can be found, best priced for the win 55/1 (Stan James) and might be worth an EW bet but I fancy a Top 10 finish at 7/2 (Paddy Power).

Matt Kuchar

Kuchar will hope to use this event to build confidence ahead of a Masters he will expect to contend. He has continued his good form from last season which culminated in a win at The Barclays with five top 10’s this season already. He returns fresh after a couple of weeks off and having tied eighth here last year. He also tied for fifth last time out at the WGC Cadillac so it’s difficult to overlook the young Florida native. He can be best found at 14/1 (Boyle Sports) and is worth an each way look.

Charl Schwartzel

Schwartzel hadn’t the best week last time out when struggled to recover from an opening round of 76 but he should find Redstone more up his ally. After a run of four top four finishes in South Africa early in the season, Schwartzel has found the going in the US a little tougher, clocking up a best finish of 14th in his last three starts. Two fine 67’s last season saw him climb into a tie for third here and he will love the opportunity to have another go this week. He can be found at 25/1 (Victor Chandler), but again think he is a solid bet for a Top 10 at 5/2 (Paddy Power).

Steve Stricker 

Stricker has posted three top-11 finishes here. That's not surprising considering his putting and scrambling skills (ninth and second respectively on Tour in 2011) and he looked on the way back to the sort of form that saw him post top-10s in the two Hawaiian tournaments when 18th at Doral last time out. He would love a win before The Masters, having not played last week. I really fancy Stricker this weekend. He can be backed at 20/1 (Paddy Power) but at 2/1 for a Top 10 you can’t go wrong.

My Tips

1pt Steve Stricker Win

2pt Steve Stricker Top 10

1pt Charl Schwartzel Top 10

1pt Matt Kucher EW

2pt Fred Couples Top 10 

• This article was published on www.fightingtips.co.uk.

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