Looking for take off at Houston
By Christopher Gibbons 4/4/08
The Shell Houston Open offers the chance for some of the PGA’s finest to get in their stride ahead of the year’s first major, The Masters, at Augusta next week. Here’s a look at some of those looking to take off at the home of the Space Center
Adam Scott
The Australian rocketed to the top of the leaderboard after the first day’s play in Houston, hitting a first-round score of 63, ending the day nine under par. Scott is the world’s highest-ranked player under the age of thirty, and the young whippersnapper could get the better of his elders at Augusta next week, especially if he arrives fresh from clinching his first Tour victory of 2008.
Geoff Ogilvy
Surprise, surprise, another Australian capable of winning a sporting event. Ogilvy had no problems in the first round at Houston, finishing the day five under par. And considering he’s the only man to have beaten Tiger Woods this year (at the CA Championship), he’ll be a big threat at Augusta.
Steve Stricker
The American’s last win was at The Barclays last year, although he did finish runner-up to Daniel Chopra at the Mercedes-Benz Championship back in January. But the world number four could get back to winning ways this weekend; he’s third on the leaderboard after finishing six-under par on day one.
Andres Romero
The Argentine rookie won his first event at only his 12th attempt in New Orleans last week, but after finishing the first day eleven shots behind the leader, it seems his jets have cooled somewhat. Don’t write Romero off yet though – the 26-year old finished third at the Open Championships last year and could still be a threat both at Houston and Augusta.
Padraig Harrington
Harrington has finished in the top ten in half of the PGA Tour events he’s entered this year. His 2007 British Open victory shows he can mix it with the very best and he’ll be aiming to prove that again this weekend.
You can catch days three and four of the Shell Houston Open LIVE from 8:15pm Saturday and 8pm Sunday on Setanta Sports. There are also highlights On Demand from midday Sunday and Monday.