Shell Houston Open: Preview

With one week to the year’s first Major, the PGA Tour heads for Texas and the Shell Houston Open. A world-class field will tee it up at Redstone Golf Club as the players complete their final preparations for The Masters.

Geoff Ogilvy is among the favourites
Fergus Bisset
By
published

Lowdown: With one week to the year’s first Major, the PGA Tour heads for Texas and the Shell Houston Open. A world-class field will tee it up at Redstone Golf Club as the players complete their final preparations for the Masters. The Houston Open began life in 1924 and over the years it’s seen some notable winners including Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer and Roberto DeVicenzo. Last year Johnson Wagner shot a course record 63 in the opening round en-route to securing victory and a last-minute start at Augusta. 15 of the top-20 players on the Official World Golf Ranking are on the starting sheet this week. It’s the strongest field in the Shell Houston Open since 1986. Europe will be well represented in the event with Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Robert Karlsson, Henrik Stenson, Paul Casey, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy all set to start. Venue: Redstone Golf Club Tournament Course, Humble, Texas Date: April 2-5 Course stats: par 72, 7,457 yards Purse: $5,600,000 Winner: $1,008,000 Defending champion: Johnson Wagner (-16)

TV coverage: Thursday 2nd – Live on Setanta Golf from 8pm Friday 3rd – Live on Setanta Golf from 8pm Saturday 4th – Live on Setanta Golf from 6pm Sunday 5th – Live on Setanta Golf from 7pm

player watch: Geoff Ogilvy – The Australian was tied second here and has finished in the top-ten three of the five times he’s teed it up at Redstone. Phil Mickelson – After Tiger’s victory at Bay Hill last week, Phil will look to hit straight back with a win here to, once again, put pressure on Woods at the top of the World Ranking. Padraig Harrington – He’s becoming a Major specialist and, as such, he’ll be looking to peak next week. He may not win at Redstone but don’t be surprised to see him finish in the top five.

Key hole: 18th. A monster par-4 of 488 yards, a lake borders the entire left hand side of the hole. From the tee the golfer must attempt to carry as much water as possible to reduce the length of the second shot. The approach is equally challenging as anything straying to the left side will find a watery grave.

Skills required: Long hitting. At almost 7,500 yards this is another monster course. With dry and fast course conditions, expect to see some massive drives through the course of the week.

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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