The PGA Tour makes its way from Austin to Houston this week at the Shell Houston Open, where players will tee it up at the Golf Club of Houston. That means yet another week of fantasy competition, where you’ll have the chance to play on DraftKings.
In this week’s fantasy contest, you can enter for absolutely free. Many of the best professional golfers on the PGA Tour are scheduled to play in Houston in preparation for the golf’s first Major next week, so don’t miss out on your opportunity to pick, play, and win; especially since I am here to help by highlighting my best picks to consider below.
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The Course
Formerly known as the Redstone Golf Club, the Golf Club of Houston has been the home of the Shell Houston Open since 2003 when it opened. Designed by Rees Jones and David Toms, it is a par-72 golf course measuring more than 7,400 yards from the tournament tees. Fred Couples posted a score of 21-under par (267) for the lowest 72-hole total in tournament history at this particular golf course, followed closely by Phil Mickelson’s 268 in 2011.
This year’s field includes Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Henrik Stenson, Dustin Johnson, and Patrick Reed. And, of course, any tournament winner not already exempt into this year’s Masters, secures a chance to play Augusta National next week with a win.
Here are my picks — “the Houston 7″ — below.
Patton Kizzire ($7,400)
Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: 0.273 (79th)
Strokes Gained: Putting: 0.816 (6th)
Strokes Gained: Total: 1.090 (20th)
Birdie of Better Conversion %: 32.77 (33rd)
Par 5 Birdie or Better Leaders: 46.92% (55th)
FedEx Cup Ranking: 34th
Official World Golf Ranking: 57th
Last Year’s Finish: DNP
An absolute stud in the making (though arguably one already), Kizzire finished T2 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open back in October, losing to a red-hot Smylie Kaufman, and T4 the week after at the Sanderson Farms Championship. With almost $1 million in earnings this season, and only two missed cuts in 12 events, Kizzire, despite being a rookie, appears ready to breakthrough.
Between this season and last on the Web.com Tour, Kizzire has shown he is one of the best putters playing professional golf today. He’s a great value at $7,400, due to an upside that tops out at taking home the trophy, not just a top-10.
Kevin Chappell ($7,800)
Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: 0.894 (25th)
Strokes Gained: Putting: -0.450 (193rd)
Strokes Gained: Total: 0.444 (64th)
Birdie of Better Conversion %: 30.07 (100th)
Par 5 Birdie or Better Leaders: 37.90% (171st)
FedEx Cup Ranking: 20th
Official World Golf Ranking: 69th
Last Year’s Finish: M/C
Technically a veteran at the ripe old age of 29 in his sixth full year on the PGA Tour, there is probably no player more primed for a win than Chappell. While prone to the occasional missed cut out of the blue and a balky putter, Chappell finished solo 2nd at both The RSM Classic and Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard (just nine days ago).
It’s no longer a question of if, but when for Chappell. With more than $1.4 million in earnings this season, he’s well on his way to a banner season. The icing would be a win here at the Shell Houston Open. To put him in your lineup at $7,800, however, you have to be comfortable giving value to his recent play over last year’s missed cut at this same event.
Tony Finau ($8,100)
Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: 0.194 (88th)
Strokes Gained: Putting: -0.214 (155th)
Strokes Gained: Total: -0.020 (108th)
Birdie of Better Conversion %: 31.52 (60th)
Par 5 Birdie or Better Leaders: 52.21% (18th)
FedEx Cup Ranking: 25th
Official World Golf Ranking: 72nd
Last Year’s Finish: T-42nd
While I certainly wasn’t the first on the Finau bandwagon, I wasn’t the last either. That said, despite winning last week in the opposite field event, Puerto Rico Open at Coco Beach, Finau had a rough February and has only made 7/12 cuts overall in 2016. Having posted just three other top-25s in 12 events, it would be easy to doubt Finau.
Don’t be fooled; he’s the longest driver on the PGA Tour, and still getting his bearings at the PGA Tour level. With a hot hand and taste of winning still fresh, expect Finau to contend this week after making the cut last year at this same event. Finau remains worth the cash and a spot in your lineup this week.
Graham DeLaet ($8,700)
Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: 0.740 (35th)
Strokes Gained: Putting: -0.385 (183rd)
Strokes Gained: Total: 0.355 (69th)
Birdie of Better Conversion %: 30.33 (97th)
Par 5 Birdie or Better Leaders: 40.00% (133rd)
FedEx Cup Ranking: 68th
Official World Golf Ranking: 133rd
Last Year’s Finish: T-42nd
Epic beard aside, DeLaet has steadily shown in his sixth full year on the PGA Tour that he is ready to step into the winner’s circle. Plagued by a putter that puts him behind the 8 Ball, DeLaet is recognized as a quality ball striker and competitor. When the pieces ultimately fit together, it will be clutch putting responsible for securing that victory.
Notably, in his last two PGA Tour events, he’s finished T5 at the Valspar Championship and T11 at the Puerto Rico Open at Coco Beach. Willing to say what others are thinking, DeLaet is on the cusp of becoming a PGA Tour winner, rather than just being a member.
Charles Howell III ($8,900)
Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: 0.471 (59th)
Strokes Gained: Putting: 0.281 (65th)
Strokes Gained: Total: 0.752 (38th)
Birdie of Better Conversion %: 30.36 (94th)
Par 5 Birdie or Better Leaders: 48.80% (35th)
FedEx Cup Ranking: 24th
Official World Golf Ranking: 102nd
Last Year’s Finish: T-5th
My affinity for Howell shows no bounds, but his numbers truly speak volumes about his level of consistency since turning professional in 2000. With more than $30 million in on-course, career earnings and 173 top-25 finished in 462 events (37 percent efficiency), Howell is crafting a year in 2016 eerily similar to that of 2011 when he posted 15 top-25 finishes in 30 events and earned approximately $2.5 million.
So far in 2016, highlighted by a season high T5 at the Valspar Championship, Howell has made 12/13 cuts, posted nine top-25 finishes, and earned almost $1.2 million already this year. A native of Augusta, Georgia, but not yet eligible for next week’s tourney, there’s a lot for Howell to play for this week in Houston.
J.B. Holmes ($9,700)
Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: 0.687 (39th)
Strokes Gained: Putting: 0.038 (110th)
Strokes Gained: Total: 0.725 (40th)
Birdie of Better Conversion %: 32.99 (28th)
Par 5 Birdie or Better Leaders: 44.32% (85th)
FedEx Cup Ranking: 50th
Official World Golf Ranking: 23rd
Last Year’s Finish: 1st
Holmes’ 2016 season to date has been quietly consistent with 7/7 cuts made (notwithstanding that accounts for some no-cut events), five top-25 finishes, and over $900K in earnings. None of those numbers truthfully have much to do with why Holmes is a best bet this week in Houston.
Keeping in mind that the Golf Club of Houston has been the home of the Shell Houston Open since 2003, Holmes’ career at this event and golf course is as follows: MC (2007); 2nd (2009; lost to Paul Casey in playoff); T42nd (2011); T18th (2012); T14th (2014); and 1st (2015). Long off the tee with an eye for this golf course, even at $9,700, Holmes is a player to seriously consider this week.
Phil Mickelson ($10,500)
Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: 1.705 (6th)
Strokes Gained: Putting: 0.608 (14th)
Strokes Gained: Total: 2.313 (2nd)
Birdie of Better Conversion %: 34.85 (14th)
Par 5 Birdie or Better Leaders: 56.58% (6th)
FedEx Cup Ranking: 19th
Official World Golf Ranking: 20th
Last Year’s Finish: T-17th
The 2016 statistics above need no qualification or explanation, as they are quite literally unbelievable. A World Golf Hall of Fame member with 42 career PGA Tour wins and five major championships, who is incidentally trying to close out the career Grand Slam later this year at Oakmont, Mickelson has everything but a win so far in 2016. With a second-place finish at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, a T3 at the CareerBuilder Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation, and a fifth at the WGC-Cadillac Championship, Mickelson is rounding into form just in time for this season’s major championships.
As the 2011 winner of this event, and known for having established a strong rapport with the community through experiences in years past, all things point to a super competitive week for Mickelson. At $10,500, he comes at a cost, though only the fifth-highest salary this week overall, but the odds suggest the risk for return is there.
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