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PGA: Course stats and value plays for the Houston Open

By George Zainoun

HUMBLE, TX - APRIL 01: A detailed view of the flag pin on the 18th hole during the final round of the Houston Open at the Golf Club of Houston on April 1, 2018 in Humble, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
HUMBLE, TX - APRIL 01: A detailed view of the flag pin on the 18th hole during the final round of the Houston Open at the Golf Club of Houston on April 1, 2018 in Humble, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI – SEPTEMBER 19: Mark Hubbard of the United States plays his shot from the seventh tee during the first round of the Sanderson Farms Championship at The Country Club of Jackson on September 19, 2019 in Jackson, Mississippi. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI – SEPTEMBER 19: Mark Hubbard of the United States plays his shot from the seventh tee during the first round of the Sanderson Farms Championship at The Country Club of Jackson on September 19, 2019 in Jackson, Mississippi. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Houston Open low end value plays

MARK HUBBARD

The businessman turned pro, Hubbard earned his Tour card this year as a result of grinding out KFT Seasons. The 30-year-old Colorado native has been quietly collecting paychecks in the 2020 PGA Tour season with a T10 at Old White, coupled with the top 15 at the Safeway. He made the cut last week gaining +4.8 Strokes Tee to Green, and over his last two events has gained a whopping +6.8 Strokes Approach between California and Vegas.

Hubbard ranks 9th in Par 5 efficiency among the field in the last 24 rounds, and 16th in Strokes Gained approach. He shows proficiency on faster Bentgrass and Poa green surfaces, so I can envision him coming into Houston feeling comfortable and ready to play well. $7,100 DK – $8,700 FD 

BRANDON WU

By now you have heard of the likes of Collin Morikawa, Matthew Wolff, and Viktor Hovland. All of these young stars competed with and against each other during the NCAA Championships in previous years. You may be wondering who is next to emerge from the Collegiate ranks, and you guessed it, defending NCAA Champions Stanford’s Brandon Wu.

Brandon was a key part of the Walker Cup alongside Akshay Bhatia where they were able to secure the win over GB&I just a few weeks ago. Ranked the 8th Amateur in the world, Brandon also participated in the 2019 US Open where he came in T35 at Pebble Beach. He did so on the strength of gaining +5.6 Strokes OTT and +3.3 APP, on a course famous for having very difficult greens to hit in regulation. Wu also had a showing at the 2019 Open Championship where the weather got the best of him leading to a MC.

What’s most impressive was his early 2019 February to March Collegiate stretch where he had 5 Top 10 finishes and a win over a span of seven weeks. Look for him to shine on Tour this week.

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