[captainidiot]

A field of lesser strength convenes this week at the Peter Jacobsen/Jim Hardy-designed Redstone Golf Club. I have not been impressed with this course and was somewhat pleased to read this from the tournament page at pgatour.com:

In 2006 the Shell Houston Open will move to an adjacent course designed by Rees Jones, noted for his work on U.S. Open venues. The Rees Jones course will have no residential or commercial real estate.

Construction on the Rees Jones course began in November of 2003 and the grand opening is scheduled for August of 2005. David Toms is serving as the player consultant on the course.

The weather forecast for Humble calls for possible isolated thunderstorms on both Friday and Saturday, after several days of cloudy skies and humid conditions. Expect a softer-than-usual course which may become even softer, leading to receptive greens and lower scores.

Among the more-established players, this field will include the defending champion, Vijay Singh, Stephen Ames, Mark Calcavecchia, Chad Campbell, Darren Clarke, John Daly, Todd Hamilton, Charles Howell III, Fredrik Jacobson, Stephen Leaney, Geoff Ogilvy, Jose-Maria Olazabal, Rory Sabbatini and David Toms.

What are you expecting this week? Who do you like to contend? Any surprises?

Olazabal has been on somewhat of a roll of late. He's inching closer to an exemption for the remainder of 2005. That's been one of the good stories on TOUR this year. I'd love to see Jose continue his fine play this week. Chad Campbell needs to resume some fine play which started his season. So does Charles Howell. And Sabbs is due for something, isn't he?