Houston Open 2020 - Memorial Park, Houston Texas

 Not used since 1963 and since undergone renovations, Memorial Park, Houston is essentially a new course for us this week on the PGA Tour. It looks like it will be low scoring with the greatest challenge likely to come on the bermuda, sloping greens. Once week before the Masters, the field sees Dustin Johnson return to action following COVID-19 as well as Phil Mickelson who does tend to like playing and winning the week before a Major.

I've opted for three very good value selections this week as per below. ( I will now focus on a preview ahead of the Masters so no real preview and insight to the three selections other than Chappell has already shown some form since his return to the tour lately, whilst McCarthy & Redman have been shown solid form the past few months and could have their eyes on winning soon at decent prices if not contend strongly to bag a TOP-10/20)

Selections

1 pt e/w Doc Redman @ 40/1 - 7 places

1 pt e/w Denny McCarthy @ 60/1 - 8 places

0.25 pts e/w Kevin Chappell @ 250/1 - 8 places

1.5 pts TOP-20 Kevin Chappell @ 10/1

Bermuda Championship 2020 - Port Royal GC, Bermuda

 I wasn't going to get really involved in the Bermuda Championship this week, but the more I look at Henrik Stenson's price, the more I feel inclined to have an interest. 

A links type-ish course with loads of wind forecasted the weekend, will try the patience of a saint and perhaps suit The Iceman and Ireland's Padraig Harrington (who makes a surprise trip). The Open Champions should have both the type of game needed here as well as the experience to stay patient and when looking at the market leaders I can't figure out the Swedes price @ 40/1 with 8 places abegging. Stenson sits outside the OWGR TOP-50, just, and he may see this week as an opportunity to gain some points, in his warm up for Augusta in a couple of weeks. If OWGR rankings are your thing then only defending champion, Brendon Todd at #41 ranks better, with Will Zalatoris  at #59 (Stenson #54). The KFT graduate may well indeed bring the better form of late but is he really a THIRD of Stenson's price ?

The price is too tempting to leave this event alone....I made him 25/1 -28/1 against this field where he wont need driver off the tee for most of his round and if he gets a fast enough start he may just be the one they all have to beat. His mid day tee time playing alongside another Open Champion, Stewart Cink and Pat Perez is favourable too.

Selection

2 pts WIN H. Stenson @ 46.00

2 pts E/W  H. Stenson @ 40/1 - 8 places

Cyprus Open 2020 - Aphrodites Hill, Paphos, Cyprus

 A new tournament and a new venue this week on the Europeantour as the Euro-Bubble heads for Cyprus. We have very little to go on in terms of course experience only that it will or should I say be wind affected but as nearly always in Cyprus, the weather looks to be excellent for the week ahead with pleasant high-20s forecasted. The course looks like it will yield a ton of birdies again this week and having seen a poorish field last week where we got a very unexpectant winner, I'm not going to dive in here, but keep it to a minimum after such a great week in California for the blog last week.

Nicolas Colsaerts @ 50.00 on the exchange is a bet for me here this week following his strong showing last week and the "Belgian Bomber" may find Cyprus not too dissimilar to Mauritius where he has been attached to Anahita GC there for some years now. Having won the Open de France this time last year too, autumn has been good to Nico over the years and he can ride the form he showed last week into another challenge at a resort that should be to his liking. He was 2nd behind McGowan in the SG:A and if he is dialled in in Paphos, he can ride a wave of confidence in a field he really should be competitive in. 

Selection

2 pts N. Colsaerts WIN @ 50.00

2 pts e/w N. Colsaerts e/w @ 40/1 - 7 places

Italian Open 2020 - Chervò Golf Club, San Vigilio di Pozzolengo, Brescia , Italy

 A new course hosts the Italian Open this week, stepping in as so many tournaments have had to do this year as a replacement to ensure schedule continuity. We don't have a Rolex Series status associated with the event this week but its not too bad a field teeing it up on the backdrop of Lake Garda.

From photos shared around if the course, it looks to be a birdie fest on the cards this week which will suit the longer hitters and those with a hot putter. 

I'm backing just one player this week, Marcus Armitage who has been in decent form of late posting 2 7th place finishes at last week's Scottish Championship & the UK Championship sandwiched with a 50th in Portugal & T23rd at the Irish Open. His lack off accuracy may not be an issue this week, time will tell but if he's striking it decent enough and makes his share on the greens he can outplay his odds of 60/1 - 6 places here. At 85.00 on the exchange he's worth a dabble for the much needed Win to ignite his career and bring some stability into his life that he's been working very hard to achieve.

Selection

1 pt WIN M. Armitage @ 85.00

1 pt  E/W M. Armitage @ 60/1 - 6 places