Blog#226 Texas Houston Open

March 17-2 7-30 2025.

Par 70 Municipal GC Houston TX

Purse $9.5M+$400K= 4%

HISTORY

Field of 156 like most of these tournaments, other than McIlroy, Scheffler, Day

and a few others, not the best of fields as players prepare for the Masters in 2 weeks.

Last years winner Stephen Jaeger defeated Scottie Scheffer who could have tied

but missed a makable putt on 18. Tournament started in 1946 and was won by

Byron Nelson who also won 11 straight in 1945. In my blog last year I suggested

that a way to improve these fields is to allow LIV payers. As of now there is no hint

as to when or how an agreement with LIV and PGA will be finalized.

The tournament was a Fall event from 2019 until last year when it replaced

the Match Play tournament in Austin TX.

MY FAVORITES (last week Justin Thomas was my 3rd pick to win and finished 2nd)

1 Scottie Scheffler 3/1 He is playing well and it will be a good tune up for The Masters.

2 JJ Spahn 33/1 Almost won The Players 2 weeks ago. If he plays like that he may win.

3 Min Woo Lee 40/1 Seems to always be in the hunt, maybe wins this one.

4 Max Greyserman 65/1 I have picked him many times, this could be the one.

5 Sahith Theegala 55/1 Must control bogies (12) and DB’s (2) last week.

6 Nick Dunlap 150/1 Has 2 wins last year, with these odds who knows.

7 Jason Day 35/1 Played well enough and could have won American Express in Jan.

8 Michael Kim 35/1 Players 4th, Arnold Palmer 4th, Cognizant 6th, top finishes last 3.

9 Stephen Jaeger 45/1 This would be a repeat and probably not likely.

10 Jake Knapp 90/1 Finished 12th at Players and led RDSs 2&3 at Cognizant.

MY WINNER

Scott Scheffler Has played well since his return iat the Genesis and was 2nd thru

2 RTDs then played the Arnold Palmer and was never in it but finished 11th.

Also never in the Players finishing 20th. But this is Scottie Scheffer and I think

he will win as a tune up for the Masters. But at 3/1 I would not bet on him.

MY LONG-SHOTS

1 Rory McIlroy 7/1 McIlroy as a longshot? I think he will use this tournament as

practice RDs preparing for the Masters, but if his game is on and Schefflers is not?

2 Joey Highsmith 70/1 Won Cognizant with 64 on Final RD

3 Rasmus Hojgaard 90/1 Hes #106 FedX 0 wins 0 top 10’s has 5 wins DP Tour.

4 Seamus Power 90/1 Strong finish last week to finish 8th.

5 Nicollas Echavarria 120/1 Tied for lead last week but faded in RD4 finished 16th.

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