The Betting Bunker: Three golf betting tips for the 2025 Houston Open

Written by: Ross Kilvington

In the latest addition to our tipping arsenal, Odds Now's golf expert Ross Kilvington (@Kilvington91) casts his eye over the Houston Open which tees off on Thursday.

Ross has been in fine form across the first three events he's previewed and will be hoping for more success this week!

Houston Open 2025 – key betting insights

Viktor Hovland sealed his first win since September 2023 at the Valspar Championship and with it, this year’s Florida swing comes to an end.

This means the countdown to the Masters is firmly on. This week, however, the PGA Tour moves west as the Texas Children’s Houston Open takes centre stage.

With the opening major of the year just a few weeks away, several players aren’t leaving anything to chance. Indeed, defending champion Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, recent winner of the Players Championship, are both in the field this week.

Memorial Park Golf Course will host the event, having first done so in 1947. 

The par-70, 7,432 yard design was reworked in 2019 by Tom Doak, who, with assistance from Brooks Koepka, reduced the 54 bunkers down to 20 – the fewest of any course on the tour.

This meant the putting surfaces were surrounded by runoff areas, testing the professionals significantly more than playing out from a sand trap.

Mastery around and on the greens this week will be key, with those having the best putting statistics likely to do well, plus prior knowledge of this unique golf course is another obvious positive.

With this in mind, let's pick out three players who could perform well in Texas this week and gain some precious momentum ahead of Augusta.

Houston Open 2025 betting tips

Selection #1 - Tony Finau - 35/1@ Sporting Index (6 places 1/5 odds) 

Tony Finau’s 2025 season has been a mixed bag to say the least. 

A T5 finish at the Genesis Invitational, plus two top 15 finishes at the Sentry and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am suggests his game isn’t in bad shape.

On the other hand, missed cuts at the Players Championship, American Express and Farmers Insurance Open suggest there could still be some way to go before he returns to the winners circle at the top, top level.

Finau’s form here in the past is the main reason why I am backing the 35-year-old to shine, though. Indeed, he claimed victory here in 2023, before finishing T2 last year, shooting two 62s across his eight rounds.

The six-time winner on tour ranks 34th for birdie average (4.3) while ranking ninth for putting from 8 feet, slotting home 72.73% of his efforts from this distance. 

These statistics could be crucial in his quest for a second Houston Open crown. Odds of 35/1 appear generous indeed.

Selection #2 - Stephan Jaegar - 50/1 @ AK Bets (5 places, 1/5 odds) 

Stephan Jaeger secured his first tour win at this event last year, finishing on 12-under par for the tournament.

He is one of only seven players to post multiple top-15 finishes at the tournament and the German has started 2025 well too.

Jaeger hasn’t finished lower than T44 across his seven made cuts so far, with the highlight being a T3 finish at the Sony Open a few months ago.

A second round 75 at the Valspar last week hampered his chances of winning the event, though he rallied to finish an eventual T36 in Florida.

Ranking 27th for Strokes Gained (SG) in putting while ranking in the top 25 on tour for approaches from 100 yards (13’2), it is clear that the German is comfortable both on the putting surface and when facing approach shots.

With a title to defend and a solid record this year, 50/1 is a price too hard to turn down.

Selection #3 - Taylor Moore 66/1 - LiveScore Bet (6 places, 1/5 odds)

Two top-ten finishes (the American Express and Phoenix Open) are as good as it gets for Taylor Moore on the PGA Tour this season.

He is seeking a second victory, having won the Valspar Championship two years ago. Could this be the week that everything comes together?

With the narrow fairways potentially posing a problem for most of the field, combined with larger than average sized greens, Moore’s game is the perfect match for the course.

Indeed, he ranks 19th for SG: around the green, while ranking 36th in SG: tee to green on the PGA Tour this season.

Opening with a round of 64 last year, Moore was firmly in the mix for a second tour title, ultimately falling one stroke short of Jaeger’s 12-under total.

That T2 finish should give him all the confidence he needs to contend again this week.

Ross' three Valspar Championship 2025 betting picks

1.5pts ew - Tony Finau - 35/1 @ Sporting Index (6 places)

0.75pts ew - Stephen Jaeger - 50/1 @ AK Bets (5 places)

0.75pts ew - Taylor Moore - 66/1 @ LiveScore Bet (6 places)

Total stake - 4pts (all place bets settled at 1/5 odds)

Seasonal Stats

Events tipped by Ross - 3

Total staked in 2025: 13pts

Total returns in 2025: 31.8pts

P/L in 2025: +18.8pts

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