After a week in Mexico, the PGA Tour is back state-side for the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Houston Open. Defending champion Carlos Ortiz returns to Texas in good form, fresh off the heels of a solo runner-up finish to Viktor Hovland at last week’s World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba.
The biggest name in the field, Brooks Koepka, has struggled so far this season. He missed the cut in Mexico, finished outside the top 35 in a smaller field in Las Vegas and couldn’t break the top 60 at the Shriners. However, Koepka had a great week in Houston last season finishing in a tie for fifth.
Memorial Park Golf Course is a par 70 and will play just over 7,400 yards.
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Fantasy golf top 10
Sam Burns (+1300)
Sam Burns stands on the ninth hole during round three of the Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin on October 09, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
In three starts this season, Burns’ worst finish is T-14 (Shriners), and he already has a win at the Sanderson Farms. Last season in Houston, Burns finished T-7. He’ll be expensive for your lineup, but with recent form and tournament history, is worth it if you’re willing to spend.
Cameron Smith (+2000)
Smith is due. Simple as that. He’s been in contention far too many times over the last year with nothing to show for it (FedEx St. Jude, Northern Trust are just a few examples). The Aussie has only one start under his belt this season, but it was a T-9 at the CJ Cup a few weeks ago in Vegas.
Maverick McNealy (+4000)
McNealy is off to a great start this season with three top 25 finishes in five starts including last week in Mexico (T-11). He’s played in the Houston Open each of the last two seasons, both resulting in top 20 finishes.
Scottie Scheffler (+2000)
Scottie Scheffler plays his second shot on the second hole during the first round of the BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club on August 26, 2021 in Owings Mills, Maryland. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
Wouldn’t be right to leave the Texan off this list, right? Scheffler had a solid week south of the border, turning in a solo fourth at Mayakoba. The Ryder Cup rookie has played Memorial Park the last two seasons with mild success (T-28 in 2019, T-32 in 2020).
Carlos Ortiz (+4000)
On the PGA Tour, it’s really hard to defend your title, unless your name is Viktor Hovland, I guess. However, Ortiz comes into the week in great form after a solo runner-up in his home country of Mexico just a few days ago. Just a year before his win in Houston last season, he finished T-4.
Matthew Wolff (+3000)
After holding the 18- and 36-hole leads in Mexico last week, a disappointing third-round halted any chances of Wolff capturing his second Tour win. However, the former Oklahoma State star has found his game once again this season with three top 20s in three starts, including two top-fives.
Aaron Wise (+3000)
Wise, like Wolff, is off to a hot start this season – T-8, T-5, and T-15 in his last three events. Last season, Wise finished T-11 at Memorial Park. His only win on Tour came in Texas back at the 2018 AT&T Byron Nelson.
Ian Poulter (+9000)
The Englishman had an interesting week down in Mexico. He was in contention on Friday, standing on the 16th tee box 8 under for the week. Thanks to a quadruple-bogey, then a bogey on 17, he missed the cut. A few weeks ago in Vegas, Poulter turned in a top 20 finish, and he won this tournament back in 2018.
Tyrrell Hatton (+3000)
Hatton grabbed a top 20 a few weeks ago at the CJ Cup and made the cut last week in Mexico but was only good enough for a T-40. Last year in Houston, Hatton played great golf finishing T-7.
Russell Henley (+5000)
Henley finished T-56 in Mexico last week, but three of his four rounds were 69 or better (a Saturday 76 was his lone blemish). The Kiawah Island resident won this event back in 2017, but hoisted the trophy at a different golf course. According to Data Golf, Henley’s game fits this track very well, one of the best in this field, actually.
In no specific order.*
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