Houston Open Golf Betting Tips 2021

Sam Burns 1pt each way at 14/1 with Bet365 The man from Louisiana followed Sanderson Farms victory in Mississippi with fifth in the CJ Cup, yet I’m surprised to see him quoted 16/1 favourite. Admittedly he looks a force to be reckoned with at every level and his Memorial Park vibe is strong after placing seventh on first sight of the place last year.

Matthew Wolff 1.5pts each way at 33/1 with Bet365 I’m going in again with young Matt Wolff who opened with a 61 at Mayakoba, was still leading at halfway, blew it in a disastrous third round, only to come roaring back on Sunday to sneak into fifth and give Golf Monthly followers a nice 12.5-1 place return.

Talor Gooch 1pt each way at 33/1 with Bet365 Tylor Gooch doesn’t have the aura of some of his rivals but the results are there, 4-11-5-11 for his last four starts. Fourth to Ortiz last year, he should contend again and 33/1 is a fair price. The American has also missed just four cuts this year, by far his lowest for a full season in his career.

Lanto Griffin 0.5pts each way at 70/1 with Bet365 Lanto Griffin arrives in good form after a sixth in Las Vegas and seventh at the Zozo. Pity he was outside the top 50 on his Memorial Park bow last time out but he did conquer Houston two years ago (albeit on a different course).

Tyrrell Hatton 0.5pts each way at 33/1 with Bet365 Tyrrell Hatton looks Europe’s best hope. Runner-up in his beloved Dunhill Links, he was contending in the CJ Cup for three days until he ran out of petrol. The World No.19 has a win and two runners-up so far this year.

Houston Open Golf Betting Tips 2021

Burns Night, the annual ritual celebrating the life of Scotland's legendary bard, isn't until January 25 but it could come two months early on the PGA Tour through one of its brightest young talents, the impressive Sam Burns.

With the late withdrawal of last year’s Houston Open winner Carlos Ortiz because of a shoulder injury - he’s been advised not to play again this year - Burns can justify his position at the head of a wide-open market and step up for the third victory of his short career.

The 25-year-old from Shreveport, Louisiana, has already won twice this calendar year, at the Valspar in Florida in May and the Southern Farms in Mississippi only last month, and on his first visit to Memorial Park 12 months ago he finished a tidy seventh to Ortiz.

So we know the course suits and current form, 58 under par for his three 20-21 outings in finishing first, 14th and fifth, the third figure coming at the CJ Cup, so what’s not to like?

His revised price as 14/1 favourite following the defection of Ortiz might put some punters off but despite the presence of Ryder Cup heroes Scottie Scheffler and Koepka, the latter looking nothing like a man with four Majors under his belt when missing the cut in Mexico, Burns makes a good stand-in for the Mexican ace who would have been my main selection on  a Houston public course that’s no pushover.

After a £15m make-over by famed architect Tom Doak, with input from four-time Major winner Koepka, the new-look Memorial Park was unveiled last year and produced a stern test, only eight players finishing double figures under par with 13 under the winning number for Ortiz.

At 7432 yards this stiff parkland test is long for a par 70, hence the relatively high scoring, and as the forecast is mostly for clear blue skies, expect four dry, cool days, no weather delays, little wind, a much bigger crowd than the limited 2000 allowed  because of Covid.

I’m also going in again with young Matt Wolff who opened with a 61 at Mayakoba, was still leading at halfway, blew it in a disastrous third round, only to come roaring back on Sunday to sneak into fifth and give Golf Monthly readers a nice 12.5-1 place return.

The 22-year-old won’t be 50/1 for this intermediate type of tournament for a good while, certainly not in Houston, after finishing second and fifth on his two latest outings.

Stick with him, remember how young he is but forget the poor form figures that preceded and followed his Masters disqualification - he carelessly signed for the wrong score.

Wolff was so mentally in the wrong place at that time he took a two-month break to sort himself out.

Looking at the improved efforts since the new season teed off, the hiatus seems to have done Matt no end of good. 

This is his first time at Memorial Park but so it was at Mayakoba and it didn’t stop him shooting a 61 on his first round there.

Burns’ Memorial Park vibe is strong after placing seventh on first sight last year, the same mark as Tyrrell Hatton who looks Europe’s best hope.

Runner-up in his beloved Dunhill Links, he was contending in the CJ Cup for three days until he ran out of petrol.

Taylor Gooch doesn’t have the aura of some of his rivals but the results are there, 4-11-5-11 for his last four starts.

Fourth to Ortiz last year, he should contend again.

Patrick Reed, who flew from mid-division to grab a share of second money in Bermuda, is always to be feared as is course debutant Scheffler who impressed at Mayakoba and was heading for something better than fourth, his final position, until the odd mistake crept in.

Also likely to be there at the business end are Tony Finau and recent winners Max Homa and Sungjae Im. 

While at longer odds, try Lanto Griffin, sixth in Las Vegas and seventh at the Zozo. 

Pity he finished down the field on his Memorial Park bow a year ago but he arrives in better nick now. 

He conquered Houston two years ago but that was on a different course.

Houston Open Golf Betting Tips 2021 - advised bets

• 2pts each-way Sam Burns at 14/1 with Bet365
• 1.5pts each-way Matthew Wolff at 33/1 with Bet365
• 1pt each-way Tylor Gooch at 33/1 with Bet365
• 0.5pt each-way Lanto Griffin at 70/1 with Bet365
• 0.5pt each-way Tyrrell Hatton at 33/1 with Bet365

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