THERE'S just one week to go before The Masters and time for some players to hone their game.
Water is in play for some of the holes at the Golf Course of Houston but the fairways are wide and with little rough. Greens will be fast and GIR, scrambling and putting could be what is important here.
Taking that into consideration Rickie Fowler looks a good selection. Although he’s gone off the boil recently and had a poor Match Play performance he has the stats, 5th in GIR with 72.86%, 12th in scrambling (12th) and 9th in strokes gained: putting (.659). He has also finished sixth here in 2014 so hopefully can pull it off this week.
Another one with good stats for here is Phil Mickelson. Big Phil won the event in 2011 and hasn’t finished worse than T17th since. He has had three top-fives this year and was going along nicely till the wheels came off against Patrick Reed in the Dell last week.
In GIR his stats are 66.92% (97th), with scrambling at 68.70% (4th) and strokes gained:putting 0.608 (14th). Certainly has the game for this course and should be there at the finish.
I like the way Charl Schwartzel is playing these days. He had a couple of months off around December and January and seems to have come back stronger. Strokes gained:putting 0.277 (66th), scrambling 64.81 (27th), GIR 70% (34th).
Already twice a winner in 2016 and three top 20s and I expect a lot more for the rest of the season.
Defending champion JB Holmes has a great record at the GCH with a P2, T8, T12 and of course his win last year. He hasn’t had the greatest of seasons and his GIR stat stands at 66.67%, scrambling around 61.11% but strokes gained:putting is only .038. Conversely his putts per round stands at 28.71 and with his record here and that some bookies are paying first seven he must be worth a small wager.
Houston Open Tips
1.5pts ew Rickie Fowler (14-1, 888sport)
1.5pts ew Phil Mickelson (20-1, Coral)
1.5pts ew Charl Schwartzel (28-1, William Hill)
1pt ew JB Holmes (28-1, bet365)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
Another good weekend for me with day winning and poulter each way. Goig for people who performed well last week.
Oosthuizen 22/1 ew
Cabrera bello 60/1 ew
Finau 75/1 ew
craig, I’m also on Finau ew – won last week and course suits how power game.
Any chance you can start including 3-ball tips?
rememo, Ace does threeball tips and day 2, 3 and day 4 tips on the members’ only forum.
no bet for me last week as hate match play golf well i hate betting on it anyay
3 for me this week all with 888 sport
Patrick Reed 22/1
Rickie Fowler 14/1
Louis Oosthuizen 25/1
Good luck
lee cuncliffe, I did well on the match play last week but only put up a few of my winners on the forum.
Ace is the main man although I’ll put up some Masters tips next week.