Steve Palmer's Houston Open predictions & free golf betting tips

Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the Houston Open at Memorial Park on the PGA Tour.

Where to watch

Live on Sky Sports Main Event & Golf from 6pm on Thursday

Best bets

Scottie Scheffler
3.5pts each-way 18-1 Betfair, Hills, Power
Sam Burns
3.5pts each-way 16-1 Hills
Maverick McNealy
1pt each-way 40-1 bet365
Davis Riley
0.5pt each-way 200-1 general

Members of the defeated European Ryder Cup side have thrived since the Whistling Straits embarrassment, with Matt Fitzpatrick, Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland all winning main-tour silverware - and this week Tyrrell Hatton, Shane Lowry, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood attempt to follow suit in the Houston Open.

The Texas shootout seems a tough task for the European raiders - the event features a strong American contingent - so the trend seems unlikely to continue.

Steve Palmer's top tip

Scottie Scheffler 18-1

The best maiden on the PGA Tour is Scottie Scheffler, according to the world rankings, and the Texas-raised slugger can go close to making a breakthrough in his home state on Sunday.

Scheffler, who lives in Dallas, almost got the job done in the Lone Star State in the WGC-Match Play in March when he was defeated in the final by Billy Horschel, and this looks another fine opportunity on familiar terrain.

Scheffler was magnificent on his Ryder Cup debut in September, fully justifying his wildcard selection, scoring two-and-a-half points from three matches and crushing Jon Rahm 4&3 in the Sunday singles.

It has taken the 25-year-old a little while to get going in the wake of Whistling Straits - his career highlight - but he closed with a 65 in the CJ Cup, then finished fourth in the World Wide Technology Championship at El Camaleon last week.

El Camaleon does not play to his strengths, but Scheffler's iron-play and scrambling was fantastic and he topped the greens-in-regulation statistics.

In the lead-up to the Mayakoba event, Scheffler carded a round of 58 at Royal Oaks Country Club in Houston, his practice base. He made an eagle and 11 birdies, with no drop-shots, and he has moved to another Houston track a 20-minute drive up the road this week bursting with confidence.

Scheffler played in last year's Houston Open and closed with a 65 for 32nd place. He had distractions though as a Masters debut was coming the following week. This time, 100 per cent focused on home-state glory, this powerhouse can propel himself into the thick of things.

Next best bet

Sam Burns 16-1

There is enough juice in the prices to back both Scheffler and Sam Burns, who is the FedEx Cup leader and highly motivated to stretch clear at the top of the mega-bucks cash race before Christmas. There are not many events left this year for Burns to take advantage of his form.

The 25-year-old won the Sanderson Farms Championship last month with a ball-striking masterclass, contended in the Shriners Children's Open the following week, then was fifth in the CJ Cup last time out, carding a pair of weekend 66s.

Last year, Burns fell in love with Memorial Park, leading after three rounds before a disappointing Sunday 72 dropped him to seventh spot. He was a nervous Tour maiden then, but has won twice since, so will have much higher hopes of converting any chance this time.

Other selections

Maverick McNealy 40-1

Davis Riley 200-1

Two-time PGA Tour runner-up this year, Maverick McNealy, was brilliant in the Fortinet Championship in September before making a mess of the 71st hole. In his last three tournaments, McNealy has improved nicely - 38th in the CJ Cup, 25th in the Zozo Championship and 11th last week in the Mayakoba, where he closed with a 64.

McNealy spectacularly found his A-game on Sunday - despite starting with a double-bogey, he followed up with an eagle and seven birdies - and that A-game made him an amateur superstar. PGA Tour success seems almost inevitable and Memorial Park is a decent opportunity.

Last year, when 113 places lower in the world rankings, McNealy fired a pair of weekend 67s to finish 20th at Memorial Park. Even better can be expected this time.

Complete a four-pronged attack with Davis Riley, an attacking powerhouse who should fall in love with the dimensions of Memorial Park. Riley is from the Deep South - born in Mississippi, went to college in Alabama - and the second of his two Korn Ferry Tour titles came in Texas at TPC San Antonio.

Seventh place in the Bermuda Championship the week before last was greatly encouraging for Riley, who is trying to establish himself on the Tour. A missed cut on the mark on an unsuitable Mayakoba track is nothing to fret about - this week's assignment should be more agreeable.

Players to note

Sungjae Im
The Korean, Shriners champion a month ago before finishing ninth in the CJ Cup, gets his favoured Bermuda grass greens this week and should be a factor.

Aaron Wise
The 2018 Rookie of the Year is swinging well again, with form figures of 8-5-15, and he finished 11th at Memorial Park last year. His lone PGA Tour victory came in Texas.

Joaquin Niemann
The Chilean finished fifth in Mexico last week and is clearly capable of being a big runner for the trophy in this grade.

Patrick Reed
The Texan is well suited to Memorial Park and will expect to contend. Second place in the Bermuda Championship the week before last was encouraging.

Memorial Park course guide

Course Memorial Park Golf Course, Houston, Texas
Prize money $7.5m ($1.26m to the winner)
Length 7,412 yards
Par 70
Field 132
Course records- 72 holes 267 Carlos Ortiz 18 holes 63 Hideki Matsuyama (2020)

When to bet By 12.40pm Thursday

When to watch Live on Sky Sports Main Event & Golf from 6pm on Thursday

Time difference Texas is six hours behind the UK and Ireland

Last week - World Wide Technology Championship 1 V Hovland (18-1), 2 C Ortiz (80-1), 3 J Thomas (14-1), 4 S Scheffler (30-1), T5 M Wolff (50-1), J Niemann (50-1), T7 D Lee (125-1), A Ancer (18-1), A Landry (300-1), S Garcia (45-1)

Course type Parkland

Course overview The Houston Open was traditionally the week before the Masters, but switched to an October slot in 2019. Coronavirus meant a November berth last year - and it has retained that position. The tournament was played at the Golf Club of Houston from 2006 to 2019, but a new venue took over last year. Memorial Park, opened in 1912, was used on the PGA Tour for the first time since 1963. Tom Doak, with assistance from Brooks Koepka, redesigned the course in readiness for its Tour return. Doak, who also designed Scottish Open venue, the Renaissance Club, added elevation and improved drainage, some holes were lengthened, some were shortened, trees were removed, bunkers were, too, and the fairways were widened. The course is generous off the tee, but the Bermuda rough is penal. The undulating greens have run-off areas around them and provide the main defence of the track. There are three par-fives - the third, eighth and 16th.

Story of last year Carlos Ortiz secured a maiden PGA Tour title as the Mexican bravely repelled Dustin Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama

Weather forecast Sunny throughout, with temperatures ranging from a low of 11C (Saturday morning) to a high of 23C (Sunday afternoon). Gentle breezes, peaking at 12 mph on Saturday.

Type of player suited to the challenge Relatively fast, slopey greens are surrounded by short-grass run-off areas, so touch on and around the dancefloors seems essential.

Key attribute Touch

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