Golf Events / Dan Geraghty / 01 April 2009 /

The Masters contenders are warming up for Augusta in Texas this week, so who does Dan Geraghty back to get into a winning frame of mind?

Tiger's incredible putting under pressure did the business for this column last week and I'm sure he's successfully put the fear of God into most of the Masters field (and the bookies). Padraig Harrington also gave us a run for our money in the without Tiger market and ended up a creditable 11th. My third selection, Anthony Kim was a non-runner due to flu. This week I'm sure a few of the players' minds will be on tuning their game up for the Masters so tread carefully...

I had a nagging doubt as I was writing last week's column that I was tipping up Padraig Harrington (at least) a week early. He will obviously be hoping that he's engineered his game to hit top gear next week at Augusta, but winning here will do him no harm whatsoever and I'm sure it'd be a very welcome victory. As I stated last week, Pod won both his Opens off the back of winning performances at the admittedly low on quality Irish PGA. Winning the Houston Open will give Harrington a massive boost ahead of the Masters and with Tiger and Phil in scintillating form, it's a boost he really needs.

Last week in this column I also tipped up Anthony Kim only for him to become a late non-runner. The flu that stopped him participating last week is unlikely to have a hugely adverse affect on his chances this week. After a hectic start to the year, he is now likely to be well refreshed and my reasons for wanting to back him still apply. He's tee'd it up at Redstone twice before, last year he missed the cut when struggling for early season form, however, in 2007 he finished fifth on his first Shell Houston Open appearance and that course form stands him in good stead here.

In recent weeks David Toms has shown glimpses of the golf he is capable of, only for his putting to let him down. That's surprising as Toms is known as one of the best putters in the business and once he gets the flat stick working he's bound to be competing again on a Sunday. This is a golf course that Toms helped design and despite the odd missed cut he does have decent form figures here. He knows the course well and at this price it's worth chancing that the putts start dropping in.

Selections: Padraig Harrington ([23.0]), Anthony Kim ([40.0]), David Toms ([100.0])

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