The world’s best golfers will head this week to the famed Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas for the 2016 edition of the Shell Houston Open. A total of $6.8 million is at stake for the world-class field with the winner grabbing not only 500 FedEx Cup points but also the $1.224 million top prize.
Read on below as a bunch of experts sound off on their picks for this lucrative PGA Tour event. While you’re at it, you can check out our 2016 Masters predictions as we draw ever closer to the year’s first major golf championship.
2016 Shell Houston Open Experts Picks and Predictions
Pro Golf Now
EXPERT
WINNER
Sam Belden
Phil Mickelson
Sam Belden has made his choice and it is Phil Mickelson who he thinks will win the Shell Houston Open this week. What makes Lefty such a good pick in his eyes is his outstanding record here at Redstone. The five-time major champion has never missed out on the top 20 in this event in each of the last five years, including a win in 2011 and a tie for fourth in 2012. He has been playing some solid golf as well, already notching three top-5s this year. With the form that he is in right now and his experience with this golf course, Mickelson has an excellent chance of capturing the title this weekend.
Sports Chat Place
EXPERT
WINNER
Randy Chambers
Sergio Garcia
Randy Chambers of Sports Chat Place has made his pick and it is Sergio Garcia who he believes will win the Shell Houston Open this week. He has been playing some incredible golf of late, mustering four top-25 finishes in his last six starts, including a second-place showing at the Honda Classic last month.
What makes Garcia such an enticing selection is his solid all-around play. He’s currently fourth in the PGA Tour in scoring average (69.821) and ninth in greens in regulation percentage (72.53%). That will be a major weapon for Garcia when dealing with the nooks and crannies of this tough Redstone golf course.
Sporting Life
EXPERT
WINNER
Ben Coley
Tony Finau
Ben Coley at the site Sporting Life is a big believer in Tony Finau. The 26-year-old is playing some of the best golf of his life right now and Coley believes Finau will carry that momentum this week at the Shell Houston Open. The American just captured his first PGA Tour title last week at the Puerto Rico Open, outlasting Steve Marino in a three-hole playoff. Adam Scott and Jason Day have already recorded back-to-back victories in the PGA Tour this year and it isn’t far-fetched to see Finau duplicate those impressive feats this week.
What makes Finau such a huge threat in every golf event that he competes on is his incredible power off the tee. He leads the PGA Tour in driving distance this season with an incredible 314.7 yard-per-drive average. That powerful swing will come in handy when tackling the long 7,441-yard, par-72 Redstone course.
