Everything is bigger in Texas! That goes for everything other than Scottie Scheffler’s odds… The best golfer in the world currently sits at +275 to win his 3rd consecutive event. Considering he’s a Texan, having never won The Houston Open is something he’s looking to check off his list. I refuse to bet someone to beat 143 other golfers for the price of a 7-point underdog, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think he’ll route the field.
After Scheffler, only a few big names will be heading to Texas. Wyndham Clark, Tony Finau, Will Zalatoris, and Jason Day are virtually the only other big names that will opt in for The Texas Children’s Houston Open. While currently unavailable, I would suggest looking for markets that remove Scottie Scheffler from the betting market. It does not make any sense to back a guy at such small odds against so many other golfers. This way, if Scottie wins, which he probably will, the second-place golfer will get paid out at virtually the same price.
Course Info: Memorial Park Golf Course
The par 70 course will be a very difficult test for the 144 golfers teeing it up in Houston. While not completely necessary for success, having added distance off the tee will help out a lot. Many of the par 4s will be 500+ yards, and 2 of the 3 par 5s can stretch out over 600 yards. Long irons will be a huge factor in determining the top of the leaderboard.
The real defense of the course is the short game. The Bermuda greens are challenging, but the complexes around the green are the biggest battle these golfers will face. If you miss the large greens, which many will considering most shots will be coming from over 175 yards away, pars will be hard to come by. Overall, it won’t take many birdies to climb the leaderboard. Expect a winning score in the low teens.
Best Bets: Texas Children’s Houston Open
Stephan Jaeger (+4500)
Over the past 3 seasons, Stephan Jaeger has stamped himself as one of the most consistent golfers on the PGA Tour. Prior to his missed cut at the Cognizant Classic earlier this month, it had been over a year since he had missed a cut. And yet, the 6-time Korn Ferry winner has still not won at the PGA level.
This consistency comes from his strong, above-average play in every major facet of the game. His ball-striking is amongst the best on Tour, as he’s gained strokes in 22 of his last 25 events. His putting can be questionable, but fortunately for Jaeger, he has only putted well in Houston. In fact, his short game is the only thing he’s done well at Memorial Park. He’s finished T35 and T9 while losing strokes both Off the Tee and Approaching the Green. Last year, Jaeger gained over TEN STROKES in the short game. He also gained 4 strokes in 2022.
For how good of a golfer Jaeger is, it’s only a matter of time before he wins on Tour. Winning 6 times on the Korn Ferry is nothing to shrug at. He has had 2 solid finishes in Houston with some of his career-worst ball-striking performances. I choose to believe those are fluke happenings, and this week he will finish the deal!
Luke List (+7500)
For most of his career, Luke List’s only real strength has been his distance and streaky iron play. His putting, like so many great golfers, has always been his Achilles’ Heel. This may or may not be changing…
List has gained strokes putting in 10 of his last 16 events. This doesn’t even seem possible knowing his career struggles with the flatstick, but List has definitely found something in the last few months. He gained strokes putting in only FOUR EVENTS in 2022, and he’s already matched that number through 9 events in 2024. He’s lost strokes putting all 3 times here in Houston, but I’m expecting that to change this time around. He is a much different putter.
We know how solid his Tee to Green game will be, and with his recently found putting, Luke List should be a strong candidate to compete with Scottie. List lost 6 strokes on the green in 2021, and finished 6 strokes behind the leader. An average week on the green should put him right at the top of the leaderboard!
Andrew Novak (+15000, Top 10 +1000)
If you’re looking for streaky golf, Andrew Novak is about as good as it gets. Coming into his 3rd season on the PGA Tour, Novak had only 2 career Top 10 finishes. He’s had THREE in the last 5 events! His current form is T17, MC, T9, T8, T8. Talk about HOT.
His recent success has come primarily due to the best ball-striking streak of his career. He’s gained 4+ strokes in 4 of those 5 previous events (he lost 5 strokes in 2 rounds at The Players). He’s also gained a lot of confidence on the green. In years prior, Novak usually lost around 1 stroke on the green during an event. He comes into Houston having gained in 5 of his last 6 events.
Having never played at Memorial Park, this is truly a shot in the dark, chasing Novak’s career-best form. At 150/1, I believe Novak’s worth a small wager to find his first Tour victory. The main play here is the 10/1 Top 10 finish. He could very easily crash and burn here, but coming in with such good form, I would hate to miss out on odds like these. Keep it going Andrew!