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While the Golf Club of Houston hosts for a 14th straight year, there’s still an air of unfamiliarity about this week’s renewal in Texas as the tournament moves from its usual pre-Masters slot to October. Previously, groundstaff had done their best to set the course up in the mould of Augusta National but the new date has led to some changes. The greens will not run as fast and, there are no shaved areas around the putting surfaces and the rough has been allowed to grow to two inches. The thickness of the rough is also an added ingredient due to a wet summer in the region. It all suggests that finding the fairways could be more important than it has been in the past. Local pro Jhonattan Vegas describes the course as “way different” and, overall, the feeling is that it will play firmer, faster and harder. Angles to consider 1/ Greens In Regulation Despite the changes, hitting greens still looks the best recipe for success in Houston. It’s been a theme of past champions so strong current iron play is certainly relevant. 2/ Par 4 Scoring Ian Poulter, last year’s winner, topped this category while the first two home in 2017 ranked 1st and 2nd in Par 4 scoring. Go further back and the theme continues. 3/ Florida form With the course now completely Bermuda and set to play firm and fast, that suggests Florida form could be of interest. Those are the conditions typical of courses there so a strong record in the Sunshine State may be a useful clue. Selections The above angles have been used to create a shortlist from which the following players are selected. Harris English Harris English has excellent recent GIR figures, ranking in the top seven for that category in his last three starts. That’s helped him finish fourth at the Greenbrier and sixth in the Sanderson Farms. He also sits 24th in Par 4 Scoring Average while having top 10s at tough Florida tracks such as Innisbrook and Doral on his CV. Earlier this year he was T12 at the Honda Classic. He’s not got a great record here but the new course conditions could change that. Lanto Griffin The American, who has played on the Latinoamerica and Korn Ferry Tours is in a rich vein of form after following T7 at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship with a run of 13-11-17-18 on the PGA Tour. He’s 20th for Par 4 Scoring and was fifth for greens in regulation at the Safeway Open two starts ago. As for relevant location form, he was second on his last start in Texas and has three top 25s in his last five starts in Florida. All those were on the Korn Ferry. Denny McCarthy Our third American pick – home players have won seven of the last nine Houston Opens – has some nice progressive form figures (31-18-9) and good iron play has been a big part of that. He also ranks tied seventh for Par 4 Scoring this season. As for Florida form, McCarthy won the 2018 Web.com Tour Championship there and was T9 in this year’s Valspar Championship. Tips: 2-1; +60.25pts 1pt e.w. Harris English at 35/1 (Betfair, Paddy Power, Boylesports 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) 4th 1pt e.w. Lanto Griffin at 45/1 (Betfair, Paddy Power, Boylesports 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) 1st 1pt e.w. Denny McCarthy at 33/1 (Betfair 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) 9th
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