Houston Open bets: Targeting 5 long hitters who can overpower Memorial Park
The PGA TOUR wrapped up the Florida swing last week and now heads to Texas for two events before the Masters. This week, Memorial Park will host the Houston Open, a field that Scottie Scheffler was set to headline until he withdrew following the birth of his second child.
With Scheffler out, defending champion Min Woo Lee is the betting favorite at +1400 on theScore Bet. Brooks Koepka, Chris Gotterup, Sam Burns, and Rickie Fowler are among the other notable players in the 135-man field.
Tournament winner odds
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Min Woo Lee | +1400 |
| Chris Gotterup | +1600 |
| Jake Knapp | +1800 |
| Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
| Kurt Kitayama | +2200 |
| Marco Penge | +2500 |
| Michael Thorbjornsen | +2500 |
| Nicolai Hojgaard | +2500 |
| Sam Burns | +2500 |
| Rickie Fowler | +3000 |
| Sahith Theegala | +3000 |
| Ben Griffin | +3500 |
| Harris English | +3500 |
| Ryan Gerard | +3500 |
Jake Knapp
🏌️ Bet: To win outright (+1800)
Memorial Park rewards distance off the tee, which is why Lee, Tony Finau, Stephen Jaeger, and Jason Kokrak are all past winners. Driving distance and strokes gained: off the tee will be vital this week, making Knapp a wise pick.
Despite missing the cut at The Players Championship and withdrawing from the Arnold Palmer Invitational due to illness earlier in March, Knapp started the year with five consecutive top-11 finishes, including in two signature events. Had he not hit that small bump in the road, he'd likely have been the betting favorite this week.
Knapp ranks second in strokes gained: total this year and eighth in driving distance. A win for Knapp is coming soon, and this is the perfect course for him to break through.
Michael Thorbjornsen
🏌️ Bet: To win outright (+2500)
Thorbjornsen played in the final pairing at The Players, an extremely difficult spot for anyone debuting at a marquee event. He played well enough to get that late tee time, but a forgettable Sunday dropped him down the leaderboard.
Still, Thorbjornsen is a fantastic fit for Memorial Park. He sits second on TOUR in total driving (distance plus accuracy) and 31st in strokes gained: around the green. If he can make a few putts, Thorbjornsen should be in contention and producing his best finish of the season - a T3 at the Phoenix Open.
Sahith Theegala
🏌️ Bet: To win outright (+3000)
I was on Theegala last week at the Valpsar Championship, blinded by his strong strokes gained: approach numbers while overlooking his erratic driver. However, Memorial Park doesn't penalize errant drives and rewards what Theegala does well. If the 28-year-old can carry his iron play from Bay Hill and TPC Sawgrass to Houston, his strong short game and putting should make him a threat.
Pierceson Coody
🏌️ Bet: To win outright (+4000)
Coody has been a favorite of mine all season in the top-20 market, and this is a good time to back him to win his first PGA TOUR event. Ranking ninth in driving distance, he was gaining a ton of strokes tee-to-green before the circuit moved to Florida. As a Texas native, returning to his home state should also help. Coody will now get to launch drives all over Memorial Park and rely heavily on the skills that led him to five top-20 finishes in the first six starts of this season.
Michael Brennan
🏌️ Bet: To win outright (+10000)
If we're targeting elite drivers, Brennan has to be included in our bets. The 24-year-old is sixth on TOUR in strokes gained: off the tee and third in driving distance. He also won the Bank of Utah Championship in his first PGA TOUR start, excelling on another course that rewards exceptional distance.
US: Must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER; Hope is here. Call (800)-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support (MA); Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).
ON: Please play responsibly. 19+. ON only. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call ConnexOntario 24/7 at 1-866-531-2600. Text us at 247247 or chat with us at www.connexontario.ca.