News: Shell Houston Open
March 29 2011
5:29 pm
Make your picks: Shell Houston Open
HUMBLE, Texas — PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for the Shell Houston Open are now available. You can check out how the draft order went this week by clicking here.
Now it’s your turn. Go to the comments form below and tell us who you’re picking this week and why.
A handful of you correctly selected Martin Laird to win last week at Bay Hill. Perhaps the most impressive post came from user RobbyRou who picked Steve Marino (2nd) and mentioned Martin Laird (1st) and Justin Rose (T3) as two other players to watch. Well done!
Who will show off their prognostication skills and predict the champion this week? We’ll never know if you don’t comment below.
© 1995-2012 PGA TOUR, Inc. | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved. PGA TOUR, Champions Tour, Nationwide Tour and the swinging golfer logo are registered trademarks.
PGATOUR.com is part of Turner - SI Digital, part of the Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network
PGATOUR.com is part of Turner - SI Digital, part of the Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network 
Justin Leonard will solidify a trip to Augusta. The Texan is always a threat down in Houston. Look out for him to run away with it.
I would LIKE to see Phil win it, or even just do well, but I’m not sure it’ll happen yet. I figure it’ll be another relative unknown winner, as the trend early in the season has been.
I’ll take Levin… been playing great and plays well in wind… hopefully some guys like Phil get a good warmup for Augusta
I’ll take Kim to defend as a longshot, safer odds on Mickelson, Mahan, Westwood. Not so darkhorse(recently) pick– Howell III.
I will go with the home state (Wisconsin) guy, Steve Stricker, with Phil a close second as they both tune up for the Masters.
freddie couples loves to play in houston like riveria and agusta he will be in the last group sunday
kuchar, leishman, levin. boom
i will pick matt kuchar is very consistent
over close francesco molinary. my sleeper is
ryan palmer if stay out double bogey or more.
well after all its been a guess who will win week to week,so therefore I’m taking the field but I also think Johnny Vegas will be back in the hunt and contend and all the guys that resides in Texas. (WIND and BERMUDA GRASS)
I’m going with J.B. Holmes. He looked solid at the WGC. Molinari and Kuchar would contend also.
If he can keep focus through 72 holes, Paddy Harrington is my pick. He is playing some very good golf but just lapsing concentration and decision making at crucial times. I Phil M’s putting still isn’t up to a win yet so from U.S. I’ll go with Mahan
J J Henry will break through for his second tour victory. Texas is his adopted home being a TCU grad and he is scoring more consistently this year since 06 when he made the Ryder Cup team. Lucas Glover returns to form to finish second and Hunter Mahan wins the bronze medal in this one.
Gotta go with “two gloves” Tommy Gainey. He’s an aggressive putter and is due to get on a hot streak. Also, I think Mahan and AK will be there on Sunday.
Aaron Baddeley or Phil Mickelson. Thank god we don’t have to be inundated with endless Woods coverage.
I like Kutcher, 7 starts no missed cuts,5 top 10′s. Most consistent on Tour ! Other picks: Stricker and Mahan.
Watch out for Roland Thatcher… local pro who has made some good showings this year.
I’m sorry guys, but this year it will not be an american who wins the Masters. My pick is any of the Europeans. For it does not matter who, they are all champions in my eyes.
By the way I am very glad that the PGA-tour finally changed the pictures of the players.
I did like very much the pictures of the WGC Accenture last January. I really could recognise the players this time.
Thank you. I am looking forward to the next couple of days.
Umm Paulina, You are a little early. They would like you to pick a winner for this weeks tourny at the Shell Houston Open. Maybe you would like to pick laura davies while ur at it.
Sorry boys and girls!! Kuchar takes the cake this week..
I think the putters will shine this week:
Crane, Leishmann, Stricker, Phil
But then I like Molinari, Schwartzel, Westwood, Marino…
My top 3 would be – Marino, Crane and Leishmann
Hmmm…I have three guys in mind for the masters, and hopefully they are at Houston this week : Westwood, Mahan and Kuchar. I don’t know if they win, but I expect them to do top 10…yet I think we’ll have another first-time winner on Tour
am goin with kim long shot he needs get back to winning ways before he goes to the augusta national.
Im going for Robert Karlsson. The big Swede will take the title on Sunday. Would love to Olly at the top of the leader board on his PGA comeback
Look out for Robert Allenby … great birdie maker and even though his flat stick is criticised.
C’mom Aussie!
D J Trahan is the man this week . Just coming back to form . Was awesome tee to green in this event last year . coming off a 12th last week with his putting back on song .
Arron Baddely shot 6 under last week after a 76 first round to also finish 12th the number 8 in the world should have some momentum
Should be reasonbly sharp and his target is in site. Mark Leishman Sleeper may surprise.
scrambling……..the king of scrambling, Paddy Harrington. Luvs to pop and claim one from nowhere and rumours are he’s gettin his game back!
I feel that Ryan Palmer is due in Texas.He has only missed one cut this year.He grew up in the Texas Panhandle.He knows how to play in the wind.I pick him at least top ten,and he is totally capable to win.I also like Justin Leonard.Good warmup for the Masters.Patience will be the key.
The winner will come out of the Thurs/Fri pairing of Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan & Fred Couples.
I have to agree with Jim. The pairing of Kuchar, Mahan, and Couples is a dream. I will be there Friday to follow them. My heart is and will always pull for Fred. He feels right at home in Houston. Also, don’t be surprised if J.B. Holmes sneaks up the leaderboard. He almost won here two years ago.
Freddie Boom-Boom will have us all excited but will falter down the stretch and Vaughn Taylor goes to Augusta!
I would like to see Fred Couples win this week, however, in all honesty I don’t think he will. He is pairing with two good Golfers who have a chance to Win, so if Fred can keep up with his playing partners, then maybe he will surprise me.
I like the Threesome of Westwood, Mickelson and Kim and the same thing applies as stated above. Good Golfers playing against each other should bring out the best in each of them, so either one will have a good shot at the Top of the Leaderboard on Sunday.
My personal favorite is Phil “The Thrill” Mickelson…Fore…..
The picks for me are as follows
Ross Fisher 80/1
Jason Day 40/1
DJ Trahan 80/1
Chris Stroud 200/1
Spencer Levin 60/1
All £10 EW bets.
Does anyone think that Steve Marino is due a Win on the Pro Tour soon? I was just looking at his Stats and so far he has played in 125 Events, made 93 Cuts and has Four 2nd Place finishes.
It made me wonder…Who has the Longest Non-Winning streak in the PGA?
Is he an odds-on favorite to Win this week?
I wonder what the Odds are in Las Vegas???
Matt Kuchar :)
hunter mahan will settle down and will lead from the second day to the win. i am sure he is not golfing and thinking about the other job…
I’m going for Hunter Mahan
Freddie on his home turf
Spencer Levin,He knows how to play the wind, he is relentless, and most of all he is went to UNM and it would be great to see an ex-lobo win. Hey Spencer if your dad ever leaves your bag I will carry it for free!
I’ll go with my favorite golfer, Steve Stricker, because #1 I think he’s due, #2 this is not a big hitters course due to it narrowing in the 300 yard range and #3 putting is going to be at a premium. Consistency is also important which helps Strick and also Matt Kuchar, who I think will also contend. A darkhorse would be Hunter Mahan who is rolling the ball well.
Vaughn Taylor should based on his previous results at the Shell Houston Open and his consistant play recently in the past several weeks.
Nobody draws a following at the Shell Houston Open like Phil. He is set to take it this year. I would choose Rory McIllroy but he isn’t playing.
definitely NOT your freddie……. but i admire your loyalty and blind faith. i reckon some of you would pick jack or arnie if they were playing. freddie JACOBSON!!!!
look for Leishman and Kuchar to battle it out… Joe Olgilvy will show up on the leaderboard as will DJ Trahan, but they won’t have enough
I’m picking Steve Sricker to beat Phil Michelson in a sudden death playoff.
Spencer Levin…he’s due for a win!
Justin Leonard – he is hitting it well enough to win. Just watch!!
I like Charles Howell this week running into bit of form think phil will be primed for next week and would love to see freddie win it but 4 rounds might be bit tough
Webb Simpson. aye!
Well won a fair bit this month and in this tourney how can u look past VAUGHN TAYLOR!! Well said gavin in good form and has past history here, cant look past him at 66/1!!!!!
I’m going with Leishman, Stricker, Mahan and my sleeper: Francisco Molinari!
Johnson Wagner is due to come off a fantastic opening round, and coast in for his second Houston win. He’s much steadier this year, and is showing a matured approach to the game. Stay calm, Johnson…and the game will come to you.
Stricker all the way!
Jesper Parnevik is going to come out of nowhere and win this week. He’s going to be like VCU in the March Madness tournament. That guy still has a lot of game left.
Oops. Jesper is not in the tournament. HAD he been in he would have one, so now Fred Couples has this locked up if his back stays loose.
Harrington, he’s been unpredictable in the last couple of years but when he get’s back in the groove..look out!, he smells a major this year
I like a handful, but look for Vaughn Taylor and JJ Henry to battle it out, both have been playing pretty solid lately. Leishman and Molinari will be close.
Molanari with Ben crane second
watch out for padraig harrington, he has been swinging the club the best he has in his career but just can’t get the putter going. i’ve got a feeling this week or next week it will all come together
Phil Mickelson!!!
scott verplank