The last event before the Masters is the Shell Houston Open, which begins on Thursday at the Golf Club of Houston. Jordan Spieth is the favorite to win this event, with Jon Rahm the second choice. Many players like to use this event in preparation for the Masters, but as strange as this may sound, they are better off not winning it. Only two winners of the Shell Houston Open have finished in the Top 15 at the Masters since it became a Masters prep, as Anthony Kim finished third in 2010, while Hunter Mahan tied for 12th in 2012.
Shell Houston Open Tournament Matchups
Jordan Spieth -145 vs. Jon Rahm
Jordan Spieth -135 vs. Henrik Stenson
Henrik Stenson -130 vs. Jon Rahm
Rickie Fowler -115 vs. Justin Rose
Rickie Fowler -135 vs. Phil Mickelson
Justin Rose -125 vs. Phil Mickelson
Adam Scott -140 vs. J.B. Holmes
Adam Scott -143 vs. Russell Henley
J.B. Holmes -125 vs. Russell Henley
Daniel Berger -110 vs. Tony Finau
Billy Horschel -120 vs. Patrick Reed
Matt Kuchar -153 vs. Patrick Cantlay
Charles Howell III -120 vs. Charley Hoffman
Rafa Cabrera-Bello -130 vs. Jimmy Walker
Jason Dufner -110 vs. Lucas Glover
Keegan Bradley -123 vs. Bryson Dechambeau
Jhonattan Vegas -145 vs. Peter Uihlein
Nick Watney -115 vs. Jamie Lovemark
Ollie Schniederjans -118 vs. Jim Herman
Bernd Wiesberger -120 vs. Lee Westwood
Luke List -120 vs. Hunter Swafford
Kyle Stanley -130 vs. Cameron Tringale
Brian Harman -115 vs. J.J. Spaun
Jason Kokrak -120 vs. Kevin Chappell
Ryan Palmer -153 vs. D.A. Points
Matchup Picks
Before I get to the picks for this week let me go over some info on the obvious favorites. Spieth is favored to win the tournament at odds +725, but I don’t like his matchups, as he takes on Rahm and Stenson who are the second and third choices in the golf betting odds. Spieth could definitely end up winning but I think there are better matchups, as Rahm is playing really well, having finished second to Dustin Johnson last week, and Stenson has finished second in this event twice.
Rafa Cabrera-Bello -130 vs. Jimmy Walker
I like Cabrera-Bello in this matchup against Walker. Cabrera-Bello played this event for the first time last year and led the field in par-4 scoring on his way to a fourth place finish. He has been playing at a very high level over the last couple of years with just one missed cut in the last 17 months. He goes against Walker who simply doesn’t look like the same golfer he was a couple of years ago, as he has finished outside the Top 20 in nine of his last twelve starts. I will lay the price and take Cabrera-Bello in this matchup.
Kyle Stanley -130 vs. Cameron Tringale
I am a bit surprised the price isn’t higher on Stanley, as he leads the PGA Tour in total driving and he is tenth in greens in regulation. He has played at Houston five times and made the curt in four of those five tournaments. He is taking on Tringale who has finished in the Top 20 in just one of his last 16 tournaments. I will lay the price and take Stanley.
Jhonattan Vegas -145 vs. Peter Uihlein
I look for Vegas to have a good week, as he needs a high finish to get into the Masters. He has had three straight good tournaments and he has made the cut in Houston in his last four starts. He lives in Houston, so he will have a lot of family and friends cheering him on. He takes on Uihlein who doesn’t play many PGA Tour events. I will lay the price and take Vegas in this matchup.
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