Fantasy Golf Sleeper Report – 2022 Cadence Bank Houston Open

2022 Cadence Bank Houston Open Fantasy Sleeper Report

A thoroughly likable guy, it’s fair to say that Russell Henley perhaps hasn’t done himself justice in his golf career thus far.

Why? Only he can answer that. But nerves when closing out a potential win – admitted by Henley himself on Sunday – have been a major obstacle.

The only cure is to play so well from Thursday through Saturday that nobody can catch you on Sunday, and Henley took his medicine at Mayakoba in some style.

Embed from Getty Images

The former Georgia Bulldog bared his teeth in the opening 54 holes, and heading into the final round he enjoyed a six-shot lead. He couldn’t throw this away, could he?

There was a relative serenity to the way Henley went about his business on Sunday, and while there was the odd wobble, nobody from the chasing pack could get close enough to turn that into another pressure-induced meltdown.

Five years is a long time behind wins, but there’s no doubt that Henley has the game to win many more.

Who knows, maybe his next will come at this week’s Houston Open? He won this event in 2017, albeit at a different venue, and has a stack of positive form in Texas to call his own. Stranger things have happened….

He’ll need to see off Scottie Scheffler, whose eyes are firmly on returning to the summer of the world rankings, Hideki Matsuyama, Sam Burns and Tony Finau, to name just a few, while taming a Memorial Park course that is arguably the toughest of the Fall season.

Partially redesigned by Brooks Koepka in 2019, Memorial Park doesn’t rely on thick tree lines, massive water hazards or extensive bunkering to challenge its players. Instead, trees have been removed to allow the Texan wind to blow, while the Bermuda green complexes are some of the fastest and firmest on the regular PGA TOUR rotation.

Factor in some harsh shaved run-offs, and length in abundance – four of the Par 4s are nearly or more than 500 yards, and it’s no wonder that winning scores of -10 and -13 have been recorded here.

A freaky weather forecast – check out the cool temperatures expected at the weekend – could push that winning mark into single digits under par, and so it will take a grinding effort to get the job done this week.

So who is best placed to make it count? Here’s our Cadence Bank Houston Open sleeper shortlist. 

[membership level=”0″]

You must be a Premium Member to view our exclusive fantasy golf picks.

Already a member?  Sign in Here.

[/membership]

[membership level=”1,2,3″]

Alex Noren – 50/1 – The Swede ranked tied first for GIR at Mayakoba, which for a player not known for his ball-striking is eye-opening indeed.

If Alex Noren can take that to Memorial Park he may be an intriguing pick indeed, because there’s no doubt he fares best when playing in fast and firm conditions. Five career wins on the Links, and some fine desert form, is testament to that. 

Memorial Park can become devilish on and around the greens, and this is particularly where Noren can take advantage – his real USP is saving par or setting up birdie opportunities on Par 5s from around the green, and both those angles are essential this week in Houston.

Taylor Pendrith – 55/1 – These are ideal conditions for Taylor Pendrith, for whom the only black mark against his name is a lack of recent activity.

Perhaps not packing his bags for Bermuda and Mexico will prove to be an advantage for the Canadian, although he has shown how rust affects his game lately – after a period away from golf, he posted middle rounds of 66-67 at Shriners….but was let down by a slow start and potentially fatigued final round. 

But remember, this is a guy who closed out the summer with finishes of T2, T8 and T13 in the Rocket Mortgage Classic, BMW and Wyndham Championship, and as one of the longest hitters on the PGA TOUR, Pendrith has the basic weaponry to thrive at Memorial Park.

Keith Mitchell – 66/1 – In last year’s Houston Open, two outstanding drivers of the ball in Kokrak and Scheffler did battle at the top of the leaderboard.

The year prior to that, Dustin Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama were just adrift of Carlos Ortiz, so it’s evident that the best big stick wielders do thrive at Memorial Park.

Keith Mitchell is perhaps a rung or two behind those names on the ladder, but make no mistake he is an excellent driver of the golf ball. He’s a Bermuda lover too, and has a habit of playing his best stuff in Texas. A missed cut last week in Mexico is of little relevance.

Will Gordon – 70/1 – It will be interesting to see how much longer Will Gordon’s hot hand can hold, because he is an interesting play this week given the quality of his play lately.

A winner on the Korn Ferry Tour in the dying embers of the 2021-22 season, Gordon has since gone 68-66-66 at the Bermuda Championship – a closing 75 proving rather disappointing, before being close, but not close enough, in T3 to runaway Mayakoba winner Russell Henley.

A player whose game is built around quality driving and approach play, can Gordon contend again in Houston?

Lee Hodges – 80/1 – Even casual scrollers of PGA TOUR leaderboards will be familiar with the name Lee Hodges, as he has a knack of shooting supremely good rounds seemingly at the drop of a hat.

He’s fired 64s at the ZOZO Championship and Mayakoba, and at least one round of 67 in each of his last three starts.

If Hodges could iron out those weak rounds that see him fall down the leaderboard, he could have a concerted run at a top-10 finish….or better. 

The Alabaman will love the Bermuda greens this week – it’s no surprise his best betting shows have come at the Country Club of Jackson and Congaree this term, and his ball-striking prowess could help set up the rare birdie opportunities that are available at Memorial Park.

 [/membership]

Want more of this week’s fantasy predictions? Check out our full fantasy preview for the Cadence Bank Houston Open here.

Sleeper Report Predictions Last Season (2021-2022)

[skill_bar heading=”Total Top 3s” percent=”0%” bar_text=”0 out of 35 picks” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Top 10s” percent= “3.33%” bar_text=”1 out of 35 picks” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Top 25s” percent=”16.67%” bar_text=”5 out of 35 picks” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Winners Picked” percent=”0%” bar_text=”0 out of 7 events” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Runners-Up Picked” percent=”2.44%” bar_text=”0 out of 7 events” style=”background-color: #5fb341″][skill_bar heading=”Total Made Cuts (Includes Sleepers)” percent=”36.67%” bar_text=”11 out of 35 picks” style=”background-color: #5fb341″]

---

Cover photo via Instagram