The Loop
Fantasy Fix: Jordan Spieth heads our Houston Open picks
By Alex Myers
We're a week away from the Masters, but this week's Shell Houston Open has a major-like field with 22 major winners teeing it up at the Golf Club of Houston. Who do we like to win this final tuneup in Texas? Here's the lineup:
Starters -- (A-List): Henrik Stenson. Arguably the best player without a major, Stenson is coming off a T-5 and he finished runner-up at this tournament last year.
(B-List): Jordan Spieth. The Dallas kid has lived on leader boards all year, but hasn't won. We think that changes this week.
(B-List): Dustin Johnson. If it seems like we play him every week, it's because we do. We're going to eventually have to start conserving his starts, but for now, we'll play the man who has made nearly $600,000 per start in 2013-14.
(C-List): Carl Pettersson. A runner-up at this event in 2012, Pettersson has quietly turned his game around with three consecutive top-20 finishes.
Bench/Backups: Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Graham DeLaet, and Sergio Garcia.
Knockout/One-and-done pick: Jordan Spieth. There are plenty of big names in this field, but with such a huge event looming next week, few have the motivation to go all out for a win that this 20-year-old does. Think anyone in the gallery will be rooting for him if he's wearing that burnt orange shirt?
Previously used: Keegan Bradley (Doral), Tim Clark (Sony), Graham DeLaet (Phoenix), Luke Donald (Valspar), Rickie Fowler (Honda Classic), Bill Haas (Farmers), Charles Howell III (Humana), Freddie Jacobson (Valero), Dustin Johnson (Northern Trust), Martin Laird (Kapalua), Graeme McDowell (Bay Hill), Jimmy Walker (Pebble -- winner!).