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This well-established Texas tournament found a new venue last year when moving to Trinity Forest in Dallas. It proved something of a different challenge to the usual PGA Tour fare, offering wide-open fairways, no trees, huge putting surfaces and nods to links golf. Opinion was rather split although the field-strength this year is probably compromised by it being the tournament before next week’s US PGA Championship. Trinity Forest is far from ideal prep for Bethpage Black and therefore most of the big names are honing their games elsewhere although Brooks Koepka and Hideki Matsuyama both head to Trinity Forest. Co-designer Bill Coore said before last year's tournament, "Because the course's character is different, some players will embrace Trinity Forest right away. Some will not. It may take time. “People either really like that kind of course or they don't. Many players said they were surprised the course was so different than they are used to. Some said it just didn't really fit their eye." Coore, alongside two-time US Masters winner Ben Crenshaw, also designed the Plantation Course in Hawaii – another venue which can be marmite in terms of opinion. Angles to consider 1/ Scrambling The course was intended to be played much bouncier and drier than we saw last year so, despite some recent rains, we should see more run and more balls rolling off the greens. Scrambling was important last year but could be even more so this time. 2/ Texas form Despite the course being a different challenge to most, this is still Texas and therefore we have the common traits of wind and Bermuda greens. Those with good form in the Lone Star state are definitely worth looking at. 3/ Course/Correlating course form We only have one year to go at here so it may be worth combining it with the other Coore/Crenshaw design (Plantation in Hawaii) as there are some similarities which some players will enjoy but hamper others. Selections The above angles have been used to create a shortlist from which the following players are selected. Patrick Reed Reed is playing on home Texas soil this week and has plenty of good form there, including runner-up in the 2016 Texas Open. He didn’t play here last year but a win and a second on the Plantation Course suggest this course will be right up his street. He’s always been a strong scrambler so looks to fit the bill perfectly. Ryan Moore Ryan Moore has finished third and seventh in the last two editions of the Texas Open and had scrambling figures of 76.5% when finishing third there the week before the US Masters. Also top 20 on Bermuda greens at the Players Championship, Moore was third at the Plantation Course on his last appearance in 2017 so this track should suit his creative eye. Scott Piercy Piercy played here last year and shot middle rounds of 66 and 68 to eventually finish tied 32nd. He’s in better form on his return as shown by a third place at The Heritage on his latest strokeplay start. Scrambling? He ranks second in the field over the last 6 weeks with 76.2% so his short game looks hot. Tips 1-2; +3.00pts Patrick Reed at 28/1 (Boylesports 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) 63rd Ryan Moore at 45/1 (Boylesports 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) 69th Scott Piercy at 40/1 (Betfair, Paddy Power, Boylesports 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) 2nd
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