[Ian Hudson]

Patrick Reed has never played in a major championship but is already claiming he can reach the top five in the world rankings.

That is a big call from a major championship virgin but he is a multiple winner this season, including at world championship level. Reed is one of the leading contenders for the Texas Open this week for which Phil Mickelson looks a poor favourite.

Lefty is usually at is best in Florida and California leading up to the US Masters but he is looking for his first top 10 of 2014.

Zach Johnson has the skills profile to contend at TPC Antonio that hosts the event for the fifth successive year. Though above average in length the course puts a premium on accuracy over distance and that is a negative for Mickelson.

With the better players looking to hone their game ahead of the Masters in two weeks the Texas Open could produce a relatively big priced winner. The elite would probably swap ten Texas Opens for a Green Jacket but with Mickelson the US Open is at the top of his wish list.

The blue eyed boy of American golf has finished second six times in his national Open. There is now even more pressure to win the US Open as it would complete the career Grand Slam for Mickelson. Only five players in the history of the sport have won each of the most prestigious prizes in golf at least once.

Jimmy Walker has no major championship pedigree but has won twice this season. He has a good skills profile for San Antonio and will be looking to find some decent form ahead of the first major of the season for which he has been backed.

By Ian Hudson
Sports Betting and Gaming Consultant
http://www.ianhudsonsport.co.uk
http://www.ianhudsongaming.co.uk

[Steve Bamford]

Have to say that Phil seems to be in a real quandary at the moment about his game shape. It’s clear that he is re-evaluating his strengths and has taken serious length off of his driving, so as to hit more fairways. In that respect he’s having an element of success, but when you see Phil Mickelson averaging the same PGA Tour driving distance as Zach Johnson across the 13/14 season you realise just how often Phil isn’t using the driver.

Now at Augusta I love to always follow Lefty and if I re-call correctly I’ tipped him in both 2012 and 2013 renewals (for my sins). However he needs to find something either here at TPC San Antonio or next week at the Golf Club of Houston before he raises any interest from me this year.