The PGA Tour remains in Texas this week for the Shell Houston Open. D.A. Points look to defend his title at the Golf Club of Houston, with just one week to go before The Tour’s first major, The Masters. Last year, Points fired a final round of 66 to hold off Henrik Stenson and Billy Horschel by a single shot.
Given that fact, this event generally draws strong fields and this year is not the exception. On the field this week from the Official world Golf Rankings (OWGR) Top 10 are: No. 3 Henrik Stenson, No. 5 Phil Mickelson, No. 7 Rory McIlroy, No. 8 Sergio Garcia and No. 10 Dustin Johnson.
All eyes will be on Stenson this weekend. He needs to earn 53 points that week to ascend to the top spot in the OWGR. Last year, the Houston winner received 56 points. A victory for the 37-year-old from Sweden would land the joint FedExCup/Race to Dubai titleholder in the driver’s seat heading into the men’s first major of the season.
One that needs the start badly ahead of The Masters is Mickelson, a four-time major winner, who withdrew from last week's Valero Texas Open after pulling his right oblique muscle. He announced today on his website that he is fit to play and will making his sixth consecutive appearance on the tournament—he won it back in 2011.
McIlroy started the year on a roll on the European Tour with a T2 in Abu Dhabi and T9 in Dubai. He sandwiched a Playoff loss to Russel Henley at the Honda Classic between Top 25 finishes in the years first two WGC events.
The two-time major winner said during his press conference that he would like to see a dominant player on the Tour. He also said: "I hope it's me as a fan of golf and fan of myself that I can do that." Big time words, now it’s time to act on them.
Garcia is enjoying one his finest moments in his career. This year he has already netted a win in Qatar on the European Tour and has a T9, T8 and T16 on his three starts on the PGA Tour, two of them, the WGC events.
Johnson is on excellent form at the moment with Top-10 finishes in all five of his stroke play starts this PGA Tour season. He finished T4 at Doral last month and in this event last year.
The FedEx Cup Rankings leader, Jimmy Walker, has three wins already this season. He opened last week with a 76 but clawed it back to finish T16. He’s a solid performer having a career year and will be looking to go into Augusta with the perfect preparation.
Other notable players on the field this week from the Top 40 in the OWGR:
- Matt Kuchar (11)
- Jordan Spieth (13)
- Steve Stricker (15)
- Charl Schwartzel (17)
- Keegan Bradley (18)
- Ian Poulter (19)
- Webb Simpson (24)
- Luke Donald (27)
- Graham DaLaet (30)
- Bill Haas (31)
- Hunter Mahan (32)
- Ernie Els (34)
- Louis Oosthuizen (35)
- Lee Westwood (37)
- Rickie Fowler (40)
Players That Need a Win to Play in Augusta Next Week
Padraig Harrington needs to secure a victory in this event to earn a spot at Augusta. It would be the first time he’s missed the Masters since 1999.
Others: Geoff Ogilvy, Ryo Ishikawa and Augusta native Charles Howell III.
TV Coverage (All Times ET)
- Apr 3 – (GC) 3:00 – 6:00 pm, 9:30 pm – 12:30 am
- Apr 4 – (GC) 4:00 am – 7:00 am, 3:00 – 6:00 pm, 9:30 pm – 12:30 am
- Apr 5 – (GC) 4:00 am – 7:00 am, 1:00 – 3:00 pm, (NBC) 3:00 pm 6:00 pm, (GC) 10:00 pm – 1:00 am ET
- Apr 6 – (GC) 1:00 – 3:00 pm, (NBC) 3:00 pm 6:00 pm, (GC) 10:00 pm – 1:00 am ET
Weather
The wind looks set to be a factor this week and the possibility of thunderstorms, particularly on Thursday, can’t be ruled out. Click here for mre information on this weekend's weather.