• FULL FIELD: Shell Houston Open
• COURSE: Golf Club of Houston (Tournament), 7,441 yards, par 72.
The 2005 Rees Jones design, with David Toms consulting, earns praise
for its ability to replicate Augusta National's setup in the final days
leading to the Masters. Built across a wooded landscape in Houston's
suburbs, Jones took care to preserve the natural lakes and wetlands
throughout the layout. Since landing the pre-Masters slot on the
schedule in 2007, though, club officials have done well to deliver
shaved banks, collection areas around the greens and a Stimpmeter
reading of 13 or more.
• FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 500 points.
• FIELD WATCH: FedExCup leader Jimmy Walker, Jordan Spieth and
Patrick Reed - Texans all in the top 15 of the Official World Golf
Ranking - head up a field that includes 15 of the top 30 in this week's
computations. … World No.2 Henrik Stenson is the highest ranked in the
lineup, joined by No.6 Spieth, No.8 Sergio Garcia and No.10 Justin Rose.
… Anirban Lahiri, twice a European Tour winner this year, and former
British Open champ Darren Clarke are among several international players
using Houston as a Masters tuneup.
• 72-HOLE RECORD: 266, Curtis Strange and Lee Trevino (1980 at
Woodlands CC), Vijay Singh (2002 at TPC Woodlands). GCH record: 268,
Phil Mickelson (2011).
• 18-HOLE RECORD: 62, Ron Streck (3rd round, 1981 at Woodlands
CC), Fred Funk (3rd round, 1992 at TPC Woodlands). GCH record: 63,
Johnson Wagner (1st round, 2008), Adam Scott (1st round, 2008), Jimmy
Walker (1st round, 2011), Phil Mickelson (3rd round, 2011).
• LAST YEAR: Matt Jones claimed his maiden PGA TOUR victory in
doubly dramatic fashion - draining a 46-foot birdie to get into a
playoff, then upending Matt Kuchar by chipping in on the first extra
hole. The Aussie started the final round six shots off the lead, but
used a 6-under-par 66 to catch Kuchar, who managed only a 72 after
hitting his approach into the water for bogey on the 72nd hole. Kuchar
again missed the green from the fairway in the playoff, finding a
greenside bunker that left him unable to produce matching heroics. As a
bonus, Jones' stunner earned his first Masters berth.
• STORYLINES: The SHO has proven an effective vehicle for a
last-gasp Masters ticket since Augusta National restored the automatic
PGA TOUR winners' invitation in 2008. Jones and D.A. Points did it the
past two years, along with Johnson Wagner in 2008. … 2011 champion Phil
Mickelson, down to No. 21 in the rankings, returns from a three-week
break with one start left to put the pieces of his game together before
heading to Augusta. His best finish in four 2015 starts is a tie for
17th at The Honda Classic, with nothing else in the top 30. … Unless the
Valero Texas Open produces the season's first two-time victor, the SHO
would be the place to tie or surpass 1994's run of 21 events before Nick
Price notched that year's first multiple wins.
• SHORT CHIPS: Despite GCH's high marks in preparing players
for Augusta National, just two SHO winners have placed among the top 15
at the Masters since it became a lead-in event. Anthony Kim finished
third in 2010; Hunter Mahan tied for 12th two years later. … Last year's
playoff was the 22nd in Houston Open history, trailing only the U.S.
Open (33). Jones was the third playoff winner at GCH, joining Kim (2010)
and Paul Casey (2009). … Though the event dates back to 1922, it has
seen just one back-to-back winner - Vijay Singh in 2004-05.
• TELEVISION: Thursday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (NBC).
Last week's winner seminoleed. Congrats!
Updated Standings
1. Sea - 6603
2. dfs - 6099
3. Bobcat - 5526
4. Ed - 5080
5. 2952 - 4873
6. Liz - 4300
7. NMT - 4094
8. NiA - 3673
9. 67810 - 3501
10. DL - 3173
11. Ocala - 3059
12. kt - 2962
13. Bill - 2945
14. Baldy - 1479
Good Luck!
This post was edited on 3/31 6:02 PM by DFSNOLE
This post was edited on 4/5 8:31 PM by DFSNOLE
Field
